Bernie Sanders: FCC Set to Approve Further Media Consolidation

[snot]

From http://bostonglobe.com/editorial/2013/01/05/bad-rule-bad-tactics-from-fcc/VVFsPjFNcqr3ZiLtthAgkN/story.html :

"As Americans across the nation were celebrating the holidays, a federal agency was tying a bow on a gift for big media conglomerates. To avoid public scrutiny, the Federal Communications Commission used the holiday lull to propose rule changes that would allow greater media consolidation in big cities. A vote by the FCC could come any day now.

"The rule would make a bad situation worse. In 1983, 90 percent of the American media was owned by 50 companies. Today, 90 percent is controlled by just six corporations: General Electric, News Corp., Disney, Viacom, Time Warner, and CBS. Now the FCC is proposing more consolidation. The proposed new rules would let one corporation in the top 20 media markets own a major newspaper, two television stations, and up to eight radio stations, and provide Internet service.

"More media consolidation, or what the FCC calls cross-ownership, would result in less local control, fewer outlets offering differing viewpoints, and less ownership diversity.

"The large media conglomerates argue that the existing ban on media cross-ownership aimed at preventing a single corporation from controlling the media in a community has “outlived its original purpose” in the era of the Internet. They’re wrong."

Much more at the link.

[zbdent]

1. Bet it would be shut down if it was Soros-Gore-Turner

that wanted to buy up all the media ...

[think]

2. "90 percent is controlled by just six corporations"

[prairierose]

3. Yes, that is really bad....and the main reason we have such dysfunctional corporate media

however, I think it will get worse with these rules. And, I have written at least 3 letters, signed x petitions and posted at least one public comment to the FCC before this happened. Thousands more did the same thing. The FCC does not care, not even a little bit, what Americans think about media consolidation. I really do wonder how big the bribes are for these people.

[think]

4. I guess one must go thru the magic FCC revolving door to find out:

New Republic: The FCC's Revolving Door Is Shameless
by James Downie May 20, 2011 9:08 AM
James Downie is a reporter-researcher at The New Republic.

Last week, FCC commissioner Meredith Atwell Baker announced that she was leaving the commission to become the chief lobbyist for the newly merged Comcast/NBCUniversal. Only months before, Baker had voted to allow the historic and controversial merger between the cable company and the broadcast network, and though the 4-1 tally meant her vote had not provided the crucial margin, she was also on record complaining on multiple occasions that the FCC took too long to approve the deal.

Full article:
http://www.npr.org/2011/05/20/136492206/new-republic-the-fccs-revolving-door-is-shameless

[lib2DaBone]

5. Had to lament today.. all six radio stations in my little town.. owned by Clear Channel..

The Federal Communications Act of 1934 was intended to support free speech and serve the American people.

Thanks to Bill Clinton working hand-in-hand with the Repukes... today.. we have virtually NO radio Service in our towns.

All 6 stations in my town carry Fox News. They all play the same stale music.

There is no local news, no difference of opinion, no service to the community.

The merchants HATE Clear Channel, the Listeners HATE Clear Channel... yet.. this is what our elected leaders have given us.

Any profits Clear Channel makes are sent out of town.. and the local merchants see ZIP...

[rhett o rick]

6. How can this happen with a Democratic administration? nm

[limpyhobbler]

7. bad call.

[johnsolaris]

8. bad news for jobs

Hi,

This is very bad news for those that have jobs in the industry. In the last 5-6 years, over 65% or more of on air Radio jobs have been cut due to consolidation & automation. Today most Radio stations have only a Live morning & afternoon air personality. The rest of the day is Recorded.

Clear Channel is going through another massive layoff at this time. Many people are now without jobs & will never work in the industry again since the number of jobs has shrunk to almost nothing. I was one of those layoffs a few years ago & most of my old friends in the Radio Biz are still searching for a gig.

[fascisthunter]

9. media consolidation=the absolute opposite of the USSR's Media Control

which is just as bad. Dumbfucks