Senate challenges Martin over media ownership

FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin got a bruising on Capitol Hill today over his plan to loosen media ownership rules. The FCC is scheduled to vote Dec. 18 on a plan that would allow the same company to own a newspaper and a broadcast station in the 20 largest markets. A Senate subcommittee urged Martin not to rush into the new rules and even recommended a bill that would stop the proposal for six months, the LA Times reports.

"Media ownership rules are important in a democracy," said Sen. Byron L. Dorgan (D-N.D.), an opponent of further media consolidation and the bill's main sponsor. "We won't allow the FCC to rush to judgment, and we won't allow the public to be shut out of the process."

"The last thing we need in the world is more concentration in the media."

Martin announced the proposed rule change in November with the vote scheduled for just a month later. Many see that as a process that doesn't give public interest groups the chance to argue against it.

The Senate vote is a strong signal but only a signal, as it would virtually impossible to pass a law before the scheduled FCC vote. Martin is to appear before a House subcommittee Wednesday. In any case, a presidential veto could moot the entire effort.

Really, the FCC isn't waiting to vote on this issue. Last week, the commission approved an order granting the Tribune Co. a temporary waiver on ownership restrictions to allow a planned leveraged buy-out to go through.