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On June 2, 2003, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) increased the number of television stations one company can own in a local market as well as the percentage of the national TV audience a company can reach. It also weakened the rules that prevent companies from controlling different forms of media in the same market. Under the new rules a single corporation would be able to acquire in one city up to three television stations, eight radio stations, the cable television system, numerous cable television stations and the only daily newspaper.

 

FCC Chairman Michael Powell and the two other Republican-appointed commissioners voted for the rule change, while the two Democratic appointees voted against it. Numerous organizations expressed strong opposition to the weakening of the rules. Of the more than 500,000 public comments received by the FCC prior to the decision, 99.9 percent were in opposition.

 

I have actively opposed the continuing erosion of media ownership rules. Large corporations have been allowed to ignore their public interest obligations. If allowed to go forward, the Powell Rules would severely reduce localism, diversity and competition in the media.

 

On February 3 I sent a letter to Chairman Powell, expressing serious concerns about the commission's planned rule changes. The letter was signed by 30 members of Congress. I subsequently introduced House Resolution 218, which urged the FCC not to revise its media ownership rules without extensive review and public scrutiny. The resolution had 135 cosponsors before the commission's decision.

 

Following the commission's decision, I offered an amendment to the Commerce-Justice-State appropriations bill that would have prevented the FCC from implementing the broadcast-newspaper cross-ownership rule and local TV ownership rule. The Senate has passed a Resolution of Disapproval of the FCC decision and I am now working to bring the measure to the House floor for a vote.

 

On July 14, 2005, I introduced the Media Ownership Reform Act (MORA) of 2005. This bill (H.R. 3302) will restore fairness in broadcasting, reduce media concentration, ensure that broadcasters meet their public interest requirements, and promote diversity, localism, and competition in American media.