MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS

• For the second time in 4 years, the government is trying to rewrite media ownership rules to allow big companies to get even bigger. FCC Chairman, Kevin Martin wants a vote by year’s end and is calling for rushed public hearings without adequate notice to push this through. (FCC Considering New Media Rules, The Associated Press, November 7, 2007)
• Two years ago, the media companies were able to lobby to push the national audience cap on television broadcasters from 35% up to 39% thus allowing both Viacom (at 38%) and News Corp. (at 39%) to come in under the wire and dodge a big problem. (FCC Considering New Media Rules, The Associated Press, November 7, 2007)
• Now the media giants want to shift two other rules: 1) a prohibition against as radio or television broadcaster from owning a daily newspaper in the same community and 2) a ban on a single company owning two television stations in the same market. (FCC Considering New Media Rules, The Associated Press, November 7, 2007)