Submitted by Laura Miller on
"A majority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) intends to
ratify a sweeping plan to weaken or eliminate rules that limit the size
and power of media companies," media watchdog Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting writes. Among other things, the changes would allow a company to own a newspaper and
a TV station in the same market, and would significantly increase the number
of TV stations one company can own. The FCC is scheduled to vote June 2 on the proposal.
MediaReform.net says the move will create "the biggest wave of media consolidation in history." The website and other media activist groups are calling on citizens to contact Congress and FCC commissioners asking them to allow for more public education and debate on the proposed rule changes. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) and two Democratic FCC commissioners have already asked FCC chair Michael Powell to postpone the vote.
The sparse TV network news coverage of the ownership proposal has itself drawn criticism. "These networks are all owned by companies that stand to profit from the
FCC's plan to re-shape the media landscape. Their scant coverage of these
issues-- ranging from very little at ABC to none at all at NBC-- reflects
a glaring conflict of interest," FAIR writes.
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