Senate Pushes Media Ownership Measure

By: David Ho, Associated Press Writer (AP) Senators opposed to new media ownership rules pressed their attack Thursday, hoping to build on victories in the House and the courts and roll back changes they say will give large media companies too much control.

The critics, led by Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and Trent Lott, R-Miss., are pushing a measure that would halt changes of rules governing ownership of newspapers and television and radio stations. The Senate is expected to vote next week on the resolution, a seldom-used maneuver also called a "congressional veto."

"What the Federal Communications Commission has done is horribly wrong for the interests of this country," Dorgan said, opening three hours of debate on the measure. He said the resolution tells the FCC to "go back and do it again, do it over and do it right."

In June, the Republican-dominated FCC voted 3-2 along party lines to ease decades-old ownership restrictions. The changes included allowing a single company to own TV stations reaching nearly half the nation's viewers and combinations of newspapers and broadcast outlets in the same area.

Major media companies said the changes were needed because the old regulations hindered their ability to grow and compete in a market altered by cable television, satellite broadcasting, and the Internet.

But lawmakers from both parties and a broad range of groups criticized the changes, saying they could lead to a wave of mergers, ultimately stifling diversity and local viewpoints in news and entertainment.

Last week, a federal appeals court in Philadelphia temporarily blocked the rules from taking effect as scheduled Sept. 4. Several other legal challenges to the rules from broadcasters and consumer groups are pending.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he shares concerns about concentration of media ownership but that the proposed resolution is too sweeping, wiping out changes that tighten restrictions on radio station ownership. He said he supports other proposed legislation that restores limits on national TV station ownership.

"If Congress is unsatisfied with the result of the FCC's review, it should step in to provide new direction," McCain said.

To succeed, the resolution needs majority approval in the Senate and House as well as President Bush's signature, or enough votes -- two-thirds of both chambers -- to override a threatened veto.

In a statement, the White House Office of Management and Budget defended the new rules, saying they "more accurately reflect the changing media landscape."

The Senate resolution would throw out "almost two years of careful study, detailed analysis and thorough review ... preventing the implementation of important new rules which will improve the quality of local news and support free over-the-air broadcast television," the White House said.

Opponents initially appeared to have little chance of stopping the rules, but their efforts have steadily gained momentum.

The House dealt the FCC a surprising setback in July when it passed a broad spending bill that included a provision to block the commission from allowing individual companies to own TV stations reaching up to 45% of the nation's viewers, instead of the current 35%. The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a similar measure last week.

Before the House vote, the White House also threatened to veto any final bill containing language rolling back the national cap. Republicans who support the new rules hope that threat will help them strip the provision from a final House-Senate compromise bill.

Before the Senate debate, Dorgan said at a news conference that he is confident there are enough votes to pass the resolution.

"We feel we're going to prevail," he said.

Standing beside Dorgan, Lott said that even if the president vetoes the resolution, "This is not the last shot out of the cannon."