The US Senate has stepped up its efforts to scupper new media ownership laws by invoking a seldom used “congressional veto” that threatens to frustrate rule makers.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is seeking to relax existing restrictions on ownership. Proposed moves include scrapping the ban on cross-ownership of newspapers and television and allowing broadcast networks to own local television stations that reach up to 45% of the national television audience. The cap is currently set at 35% (see
FCC Relaxes US Media Ownership Rules As Expected).
The Republican-dominated FCC voted 3-2 in favour of the reforms but the body has come in for heavy criticism from politicians and public interest groups who believe that the measures will stifle diversity and make a small number of media giants even more powerful.
“This rule opens the gates to massive additional concentration, mergers, acquisitions, fewer and fewer companies owning more and more properties,” said Senator Byron Dorgan, a Democrat Senator who is leading opposition to the plans.
The Congressional “resolution of disapproval” comes to a vote next week and the Senate requires a two-thirds majority to overturn a veto by President George Bush. Last week, a Philadelphia court suspended the introduction of the new FCC regulations (see Court Delays New FCC Ownership Rules) but the Republican leadership remains unbowed.
“The administration believes that the new FCC local and national media ownership rules more accurately reflect the changing media landscape and the current state of network station ownership, while guarding against undue concentration in the marketplace,” a White House statement said.
