3 GOP Senators Want Input on Media Rules

By: Todd Shields (Mediaweek.com) Three Republican senators are calling for broader public debate before the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) decides what changes to make in the nation's media ownership laws. The suggestion, if followed, could slow the national deregulation coveted by media companies.

The call, which came in a letter to FCC chairman Michael Powell, may signal broadening bipartisan concern over the prospect of bigger, more powerful broadcasters and publishers. In public debate so far, Democrats have been the most forceful opponents of relaxing the ownership laws.

The GOP senators -- Wayne Allard of Colorado and Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, both of Maine -- in their Wednesday letter expressed concern over the impact consolidated ownership could have on the range of news and opinion offered to communities.

"A fully functioning democracy depends on media sources with diverse voices and opinions as well as content relevant to local communities," the senators wrote. "It would be inappropriate to make significant changes that could have a sweeping impact on how our society engages in public debate without first having a complete public airing of these changes."

The senators called for the FCC to summon public comment on specific changes to the ownership rules.

Powell has pledged to complete his agency's sweeping review of major media ownership rules by late spring. That timetable could be difficult to meet if a round of comment follows the agency's proposed changes.

Skeptics of relaxing the rules have been pushing for broader public debate before the FCC moves.

Rules under review at the agency include those that limit the size of TV networks, that forbid ownership of broadcast stations and daily newspapers in the same community, and that limit the number of TV and radio stations a single owner can hold in a market.

The rules were designed to preserve a variety of media voices. Media companies argue that purpose has been obviated by recent decades' proliferation of outlets, including those offered by cable, satellite, and the Internet.