Posted on 09/17/2003 10:54:29 AM PDT by putupon
Also see: Republicans Join Fight to Muzzle Rush Limbaugh and Rush Says 'Fairness Doctrine' Spells Doom for Talk Radio.
The Republican-led Senate ignored a presidential veto threat Tuesday and voted to overturn the Federal Communications Commission's recently adopted rules on broadcast ownership.
A dozen Republicans joined Democrats in passing the bill 55 to 40. Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., had joined with Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., in co-sponsoring the so-called "congressional veto" resolution. The measure now moves to the House of Representatives, where it faces an uncertain fate.
At issue is the FCC's June party-line vote, which allowed conglomerates to own a larger percentage of media companies in a single market and permitted cross-ownership of newspapers and television stations in many communities. Even without the Lott/Dorgan legislation, the FCC's changes have been put on hold temporarily while a legal challenge is heard.
A diverse group of organizations, ranging from the National Rifle Association and the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to Consumers Union and Common Cause, have banded together to oppose the new rules. Media companies are leading the effort to keep them in place.
The Senate's vote came after a lively debate Tuesday morning. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., criticized the resolution as too sweeping. McCain said he would press the Senate to take action on a bill restoring the cross-ownership rule and the national broadcast cap.
By adopting the so-called "congressional veto" resolution, the Senate voted to undo all components of the FCC's June 2 decision.
Obstacles
Republican leaders in the House are less likely to buck President Bush on the issue. The House has already taken steps to block the FCC from allowing companies to own television stations reaching up to 45 percent of the nation's viewers, instead of the current 35 percent.
FCC Chairman Michael Powell, who has faced a growing chorus of critics and calls for his resignation, said the Senate's resolution "would only muddy the media regulatory waters." He said lawmakers have left the agency powerless.
"It would bring no clarity to media regulation, only chaos," Powell said in a statement. "It would create perverse results, such as a return to looser radio rules permitting greater consolidation. This is a harm the FCC's new media rules were designed to avoid."
Powell's critics, meanwhile, turned their attention to the House of Representatives, where a tougher fight is expected.
"This was the Senate's first opportunity to declare its position on media consolidation, and it gave a bipartisan 'no' to media moguls and a 'yes' to the American public," said Chellie Pingree, president of Common Cause. "The House now has an obligation to America to take up the issue and give its members the opportunity to correct the FCC's mistake."
Opponents of the rule change cited the grassroots efforts of groups such as the NRA and MoveOn.org, which asked members to contact lawmakers. Eli Pariser, campaign director for MoveOn.org, said senators received more than 200,000 comments in a two-day span last week.
Consumers Union, which delivered thousands of letters, praised the Senate's vote for its potential impact to limit bias in the mainstream media.
"The Senate today clearly re-established the principle that separate ownership of dominant local newspapers and local broadcasters is essential to preserve the checks and balances against media bias that our democracy relies upon," said Gene Kimmelman, senior policy director for Consumers Union.
Copyright CNSNews.com
Read more on this subject in related Hot Topics:
Bush Administration
Guns/Gun Control
Media Bias
Sen. John McCain
Editor's note:
Have an Opinion About This? Click Here to Send an
URGENT PriorityGram Today
Maybe they need some FReeping
We don't live in a democracy. We live in a free republic.
Michael
In theory, you would seem correct.
In reality, we have Talk Radio and FOX News vs. ABC,CBS, NBC, PBS,CNN, all the major print media such NYT,LAT,WP,Time Magazine,Newsweek, etc., Bruce Springsteen and all the other miscellaneous rockers, and Hollywierd leftist slanted productions.
Look at FM radio taeday, the same dozen or so songs they want you tae hear and buy. Repeated over and over again nae matter whit city ye happen tae be in. This is directly due tae deregulation which resulted in the buyin up of localy owned stations by huge conglomerates.
Whit's tae say local news reporing is no the same way? Who is deciding whit the slant is?
There is much wailin and gnashin of teeth at Clear Channel and their ilk taeday because, yes, the Senate did something right.
Monopolies were created. I only hope they can be dismantled.
Fergus
Who is deciding to listen to it or not? US! Let the free market deal with it. If you don't like it, change the channel! Even the left has said that about queer programming.
The "Fairness" act included in the bill tells programming what they have to air, whether the people like it or not. You will obey! (It's facist).
If that's what the free republic wants, they should have it. We don't live in a socialist society. We live in a free society.
If this is stopped by the house, we'll be able to remain free. If not, let the Marxist mental re-programming begin!
"If you don't like it, change the channel!"
end quote
Ma point is it willnae do any good tae change the channel when they are all owned by the same content provider.
Is it fact that this so called "Fairness Act" is in this bill?
Talk tae me, I dinna listen tae Rush.
Fergus
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.