House Committee Votes to Block FCC Media Ownership Rules

[Dave Farber <dave () farber net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Joseph Lorenzo Hall <jhall () astron berkeley edu>
Date: Wed, 16 Jul 2003 15:12:46 -0700 (PDT)
To: Dave Farber <dave () farber net>
Subject: House Committee Votes to Block FCC Media Ownership Rules


You've got to love this quote: "I didn't get elected here to be a
potted plant." --Rep. Frank Wolf (R-Va.) -jlh

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Panel Votes to Block Media Ownership Rules
By Dan Morgan

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A499-2003Jul16.html

In a bipartisan vote, the House Appropriations Committee today moved
to block the Federal Communications Commission from easing rules that
have limited concentration in the nation's commercial television
markets.

The panel's action applied to a key part of a landmark June 2 FCC
decision that would enable networks to acquire stations reaching up to
45 percent of the national audience. By preventing the FCC from
spending funds to carry out its new ruling, the committee effectively
restored the old limit of 35 percent.

The White House opposed the committee's action, and White House budget
officials said they would recommend that the president veto the 2004
Commerce, Justice and State Department spending bill, to which the
provision was attached, unless it was deleted.

The action was also strongly opposed by Rep. Billy Tauzin (R-La.),
chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has
jurisdiction over the FCC.

"This is exactly not the way to do this," said Tauzin. "The
Appropriations Committee is the last place you should be making this
decision."

But Republican and Democratic opponents of an easing of the media
concentration rules said Tauzin had made clear he would never allow
legislation overturning the FCC decision to pass through his
committee, even though a majority support it.

"If we don't move here absolutely nothing will happen," said Rep.
David Obey (D-Wis.), who offered the amendment striking down the FCC's
new rule for network ownership of stations.

Eleven Republicans joined Democrats in approving Obey's provision on a
vote of 40 to 25, after members of both parties attacked the growing
concentration in television as a threat to local stations,
particularly those in small markets.

Obey said that what was at stake was the ability of independent
television stations to continue providing programming consistent with
local community values.

"I didn't get elected here to be a potted plant," said Rep. Frank Wolf
(R-Va.), who cited "garbage" in television advertising and
programming.

Rep Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) called commercial television "a garbage
pit."

Obey's amendment did not affect other aspects of the FCC's June 2
decision, such as an easing of rules on media cross-ownership by
newspapers. A Republican amendment that also would have pared back
that part of the ruling was defeated on a voice vote.

In the Senate, Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) has picked up nearly three
dozen supporters for a resolution that would overturn the FCC ruling.
No date has been set for a vote.

(c) 2003 The Washington Post Company


(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is
distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior
interest in receiving the included information for research and
educational purposes.)


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Joseph Lorenzo Hall
Graduate Student                 http://astron.berkeley.edu/~jhall


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