But they never let you know, On the TV and the radio

posted by The Sailor @ 6:25 PM Permalink

Don't turn around, oh oh
Der Kommissar's in town, oh oh:

Defiant FCC Chief Refuses To Delay Vote

Friday, December 14, 2007

Facing growing criticism of his agenda and tactics, a defiant Kevin J. Martin, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, refused senators’ requests Thursday to delay a vote next week on his plan to loosen restrictions on owning a newspaper and broadcast station in the same city.
[...]
Martin wants to lift the so-called cross-ownership ban in the top 20 U.S. markets and allow such combinations in smaller markets if the FCC determines that they would be in the public interest.
[...]
Lawmakers and public interest groups had expected the FCC’s periodic review of its media ownership rules to extend into next year. But Martin accelerated the process in October, rushing to hold the final two public hearings with minimal notice and proposing to vote on a plan Tuesday, just a week after public comments were due at the FCC.

Once again Kommissar Martin is ignoring The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent United States government agency, directly responsible to Congress.

The congress, the public hearings and public comments were overwhelmingly against more media consolidation. So what's Martin's reaction? He and his fellow bush appointees changed the freakin' rules anyway!

FCC, on 3-2 vote, OKs media ownership rule

Dec 19, 2007

Federal regulators Tuesday brushed aside the concerns of lawmakers and decided to ease the reins on media companies seeking to own newspaper and broadcast properties in the same market in the nation's 20 biggest markets.

But wait, there's more!

FCC chief defends media ownership rules

Tue Dec 25

The Republican chairman of the Federal Communications Commission is disputing Democratic assertions that a new rule loosening restrictions on media ownership is full of loopholes and will lead to a wave of mergers and fewer choices for consumers.
[...]
The conflicting impressions say a lot about the divisive nature of the media ownership debate. Too much media in the hands of too few companies raises fears of an emerging corporate big brother and fewer news and information sources.
[...]
Since then, questions over what the rule actually means have lingered. The rule itself — despite a commission vote — has yet to be released to the public.

Quick summation; the rethuglican chairman of a public agency ignored Congress, studies and the public to institute a rule that they haven't released to the public ... and defended his illegal and unconstitutional actions on Christmas Day.

Do they know it's Christmas? Yeah, but they don't care. I see a Meddle In Honor in his future.

Labels: corptocracy, corruption, FCC