Statement of Congressman John D. Dingell, Chairman
Committee on Energy and Commerce

DINGELL ON THE FCC MEDIA OWNERSHIP DECISION

December 18, 2007

Washington, D.C. – Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, released the following statement this morning following the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) decision to implement new newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rules:

“Despite specific bipartisan and bicameral opposition, the Federal Communications Commission acted arrogantly and brazenly today to weaken the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership ban. While the Commission did tighten some loopholes in the rule, I am greatly displeased that the Chairman chose to vote on this important issue a mere week after hundreds of pages of comment were submitted on his proposed rule. I question whether the Commission gave adequate, or any, consideration to the public’s input. I am also deeply dismayed that the Commission granted dozens of waivers of the new rule without any opportunity for public comment. The Commission has squandered an opportunity to reach agreement on even more meaningful ways to provide concrete benefits to consumers in the form of more minority media ownership and attention to localism. The FCC is a creature of Congress, and these matters will be the subject of rigorous oversight by the Committee on Energy and Commerce.

Chairman Dingell formally requested Chairman Martin to delay this vote in a letter sent on November 15, 2007. The Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing on December 5 regarding the issue of cross-ownership, at which all five FCC Commissioners testified, as well as stakeholders who would be affected by this decision.