Slog - Comments on FCC Approves Deregulation of Ownership Rules http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r Posted by news intern Brian Slodysko The FCC today overturned rules governing media ownership, paving the way for consolidation of newspaper and broadcast ownership in the 20 largest markets in the United States From the AP: The Federal Communications Commission voted Tuesday to overturn a 32-year-old ban and allow broadcasters in the nation's 20 largest media markets to also own a newspaper. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin was joined by his two Republican colleagues in favor of the proposal, while the commission's two Democrats voted against it. Martin pushed the vote through despite intense pressure from House and Senate members on... Copyright 2008 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:14:34 -0800 Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:50:31 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by DOUG. Kevin Martin's a soulless toady prick. Congress needs to act in response to this move.

]]> DOUG. http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877182 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877182 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:17:17 -0800 Comment by Tlazolteotl I was going to call him a fuckwad, but Doug, "soulless toady prick" is so much more just and, well, poetic.

]]> Tlazolteotl http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877195 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877195 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:25:24 -0800 Comment by Tyler Durden I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.

]]> Tyler Durden http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877197 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877197 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:26:36 -0800 Comment by left coast The media has already completely adicated all of its role in this democracy. I guess it could get worse if Rupert Murdoch owned everything, but I already feel like you have to go outside the US to have any idea what's going on inside the US.


As a funny aside, this is the headline from the Wall Street Journal this morning: Industry Seethes as FCC Sets Curbs. Has Murdoch taken over already? This looks like the Fox News adage of reporting the exact opposite of the truth.

]]> left coast http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877198 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877198 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:26:53 -0800 Comment by More To Come Sons-of-bitches salting the earth before they're thrown out on their sorry asses next year.

]]> More To Come http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877199 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877199 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:27:30 -0800 Comment by James Outrageous, but not surprising.

]]> James http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877214 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877214 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:35:43 -0800 Comment by Just me No chance Murdoch will buy up the publisher of The Stranger is there? The thought of Dan answering to Murdoch just makes me laugh my ass off!!

]]> Just me http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877229 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877229 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:47:58 -0800 Comment by chunkstyle left coast,

what is being falsely reported? I checked out that WSJ piece, and yes, some in the industry are seething, mostly about a 30% market share cap for cable companies.

]]> chunkstyle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877234 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877234 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 12:53:35 -0800 Comment by Fnarf With any luck at all, these big media companies will all be dead in a few years anyways.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877237 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877237 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:01:04 -0800 Comment by Matt from Denver DOUG @ 1,

Congress can act fast, but unless they get a veto-proof majority to pass it, it won't do any good. We can only hope that there aren't deals that have already been negotiated in anticipation of this because once they go through it'll be hell to undo the damage, if not impossible - January 20, 2009 is still over a year away and there's no guarantee we'll have a Dem president on that day.

]]> Matt from Denver http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877238 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877238 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:01:16 -0800 Comment by Will in Seattle When he's burning in Hell, I hope the FCC chairman steals GWB's and Cheney's pitchforks ...

]]> Will in Seattle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877289 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877289 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:36:34 -0800 Comment by Matt from Denver Crap, I really should read the entire post before I comment. The last paragraph details exactly the kind of deal I wrote about @ 10. Oh well, live and learn.

]]> Matt from Denver http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877298 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877298 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:39:59 -0800 Comment by flamingbanjo Today's Top Stories:
Real estate tycoon Samuel Zell donates millions to charity. Local churches, philanthropists express thanks. Photos page 11.

Pg B2: Housing market correction means deals for home buyers. Market 'stabilizing," experts say.

Pg L1: Check out the latest upscale Chicago condos in our Urban Living section!

]]> flamingbanjo http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877307 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877307 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:45:55 -0800 Comment by NapoleonXIV That pretty much sounds like the PI any day of the week....

]]> NapoleonXIV http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877318 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877318 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:53:42 -0800 Comment by wisepunk I think that the meeting would have been much more realistic if the repub members of the FCC board came out in front of the public, dropped trou, wiggled their tiny little dicks, flipped the bird and walked off stage. Because that is basically what they did.

]]> wisepunk http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877331 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877331 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:00:24 -0800 Comment by observer Yeah, the lizzards don't sleep, and their keepers are easily distracted by the food and beads.

What a freakin' joke.

]]> observer http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877359 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877359 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:19:48 -0800 Comment by Lake Remember when Colin Powell's son was the chairman of the FCC

that was hilarious

]]> Lake http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877449 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877449 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 15:19:22 -0800 Comment by left coast chunkstyle, you know who should be seething? The authors of the federalist papers that's who. there is no corporate interest that has not benefitted during the past 7 seven years - you should go read that vanity fair piece that was posted today. changes were railroaded through allowing consolidation that is absolutely against the public's interest. the industry is 'seething' because they didn't get to write the legislation? do you really think that is an accurate reporting of what happened to day? they are dancing, and once again democracy is the worse. wake up.

]]> left coast http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877525 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877525 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:09:39 -0800 Comment by chunkstyle left coast,

Well, you are obviously passionate about the subject matter. I was merely asking about your implication that the WSJ was reporting falsehood or in your words, "the exact opposite of truth". In fact, the article reported some in the industry were seething about FCC regulations, and that is substantiated by the contents therein.


Where is the false reporting you allege? It's not there, as far as I can see.

]]> chunkstyle http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877610 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c877610 News Tue, 18 Dec 2007 17:45:33 -0800 Comment by Chinook Folks, I really don't think this decision is that bad. I've done some work with NAB, and I think that this legislation is a step in the right direction toward letting local media properties acquire corporate resources.

Check out what Tech Dirt said --

"First, there are more sources of media than ever before in history -- by a long shot. To think that a single TV station or newspaper can dominate the conversation is laughable. Second, since it can't involve a top 4 TV station, it's hard to believe that this new entity will have all that much dominance in the market. There seems to be nothing wrong with this proposal."

]]> Chinook http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c878313 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c878313 News Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:27:31 -0800 Comment by I smell something... NAB? The National Association of Broadcasters? AKA the lobbying group for corporate media?

]]> I smell something... http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c878328 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c878328 News Wed, 19 Dec 2007 13:39:19 -0800 Comment by Chinook NAB is a trade association. I'd love to hear what you think about Tech Dirt's post.

]]> Chinook http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c878460 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/12/fcc_approves_deregulation_of_ownership_r#c878460 News Wed, 19 Dec 2007 14:50:31 -0800