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05/14/2003 Archived Entry: "Well, here's some good news."
Well, here's some good news.
Looks as though some Congress-critters are starting to come to their senses regarding Michael Powell's plans to gut radio station ownership regulation. 'Bout damn time.
Plans by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deregulate news media ownership next month appear likely to face stiff opposition on Capitol Hill, judging by Senate Commerce Committee members’ grilling of media executives at a hearing yesterday.Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in his opening statement that more than half the panel members have written FCC Chairman Michael Powell about the expected deregulation, urging him to delay action until they could hear more about the plan.
“I hope we can find a way to derail this effort by the FCC,” said committee member Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.). “It will be too late to call the FCC commissioner to this committee after they have acted.”
Dorgan asked Frank Blethen, publisher of The Seattle Times, what he thought would happen if the expected deregulation of ownership rules went through.
“I think we will see the beginning of the end of democracy,” Blethen replied. “It’s going to be a sad day for America if that happens.”
