grinner
05-13-2003, 09:38 PM
Wednesday May 14, 12:57 AM
Two FCC commissioners seek to postpone vote on media ownership rules
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WASHINGTON (AFP) - Two commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission asked for a "public airing" before the FCC votes on controversial rule changes on media ownership.
Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps released a letter indicating they are seeking to postpone a key June 2 meeting at the commission at which the FCC is due to vote on media ownership caps.
"We believe a full notice and comment period on the specific proposals is warranted. Sound policy making, perhaps even the law, requires no less," the two Democratic-appointed commissioners said in a joint statement.
"When the Commission is considering significant changes that could unalterably remake our media landscape for years to come, we believe it is prudent to have a transparent process that ensures we understand the full implications of our decisions," the commissioners said.
The FCC has not released its precise proposal, but news reports said the changes would, among other things, allow a newspaper publisher to own a television station in the same city and permit broadcast networks to acquire more stations.
The Washington Post reported that companies such as Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. and the Walt Disney Co. have lobbied to lift the ownership limits.
Industry analysts have speculated that the review of broadcast-TV ownership rules will eventually lead to the lifting the cap from 35 percent coverage of the US market to between 45 and 50 percent.
Increasing the cap would enable large television groups to purchase more local television stations.
FCC Chairman Michael Powell is understood to have the support of his two fellow Republican commissioners in seeking to lift these caps, the Financial Times said.
Under FCC practices, requests from commissioners have been honored in the past, but an ultimate decision on whether to proceed with the vote on June 2 rests solely with Powell.
Following the release of the statement by Adelstein and Copps, Republican commissioner Kevin Martin issued a quick statement saying that vote should proceed as planned on June 2.
"It is past the time for the Commission to act. I think the Commission should go forward with the scheduled vote on June 2," Martin said.
"Many of the rulemakings incorporated into this proceeding have been pending for over a year. Indeed, the newspaper/broadcast rulemaking was opened in September 2001," Martin added.
An FCC spokesman said commissioner Adelstein met Powell at noon today to put forward his request for a postponement on the June 2 vote, and that the chairman told Adelstein he would consider his request and get back to Adelstein promptly.
Two FCC commissioners seek to postpone vote on media ownership rules
Photo
Click to enlarge photo
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Two commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission asked for a "public airing" before the FCC votes on controversial rule changes on media ownership.
Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps released a letter indicating they are seeking to postpone a key June 2 meeting at the commission at which the FCC is due to vote on media ownership caps.
"We believe a full notice and comment period on the specific proposals is warranted. Sound policy making, perhaps even the law, requires no less," the two Democratic-appointed commissioners said in a joint statement.
"When the Commission is considering significant changes that could unalterably remake our media landscape for years to come, we believe it is prudent to have a transparent process that ensures we understand the full implications of our decisions," the commissioners said.
The FCC has not released its precise proposal, but news reports said the changes would, among other things, allow a newspaper publisher to own a television station in the same city and permit broadcast networks to acquire more stations.
The Washington Post reported that companies such as Rupert Murdoch's News Corp. and the Walt Disney Co. have lobbied to lift the ownership limits.
Industry analysts have speculated that the review of broadcast-TV ownership rules will eventually lead to the lifting the cap from 35 percent coverage of the US market to between 45 and 50 percent.
Increasing the cap would enable large television groups to purchase more local television stations.
FCC Chairman Michael Powell is understood to have the support of his two fellow Republican commissioners in seeking to lift these caps, the Financial Times said.
Under FCC practices, requests from commissioners have been honored in the past, but an ultimate decision on whether to proceed with the vote on June 2 rests solely with Powell.
Following the release of the statement by Adelstein and Copps, Republican commissioner Kevin Martin issued a quick statement saying that vote should proceed as planned on June 2.
"It is past the time for the Commission to act. I think the Commission should go forward with the scheduled vote on June 2," Martin said.
"Many of the rulemakings incorporated into this proceeding have been pending for over a year. Indeed, the newspaper/broadcast rulemaking was opened in September 2001," Martin added.
An FCC spokesman said commissioner Adelstein met Powell at noon today to put forward his request for a postponement on the June 2 vote, and that the chairman told Adelstein he would consider his request and get back to Adelstein promptly.