[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2627]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE MEDIA OWNERSHIP ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JAY INSLEE

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 19, 2007

  Mr. INSLEE. Madam Speaker, as much of America now knows, yesterday in 
a split decision, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to 
approve new media ownership rules that in many ways are far worse for 
the public interest than anything previously revealed by FCC Chairman 
Martin.
  Prior to yesterday's vote. Chairman Martin had attempted to portray 
his proposal as a ``moderate compromise'' that would allow one company 
to own both a daily newspaper and a low-rated broadcast TV station in 
only the 20 largest media markets. But research from Free Press--
collected in the Devil in the Details report--exposed how the loose and 
ambiguous ``waiver'' standards in the proposal left a giant loophole 
for companies to sidestep the ban in any market and for any station.
  The final rule, rewritten in the middle of the night before the 
hearing, retains all of the original loopholes and adds additional 
loopholes that appear to allow cross-ownership mergers in virtually any 
market.
  While I had held out hope that the FCC would delay this vote given 
the outpouring of public commentary opposing the rule changes, it is 
clear that the Chairman of the FCC is not listening. I see no other 
choice than to push for congressional action, and to that end, 
yesterday I introduced H.R. 4835, the Media Ownership Act of 2007, in 
the House to stop these new cross-ownership rules from going forward.
  I am pleased to have been joined by my Washington State colleague 
Representative Dave Reichert in this bipartisan effort, and it is my 
hope that we can move swiftly to prevent these new rules from going 
into effect. This effort is the companion to work being done in the 
Senate Commerce Committee where a bipartisan group of Senators have led 
the effort against these changes.
  When Chairman Martin was before the Energy and Commerce Committee 
earlier this month, I asked him how he could ignore the public outcry 
he heard when he visited Seattle, Washington, where--despite less than 
5 days notice--thousands turned out and stayed until 1 a.m. on a Friday 
night to voice their concerns. I asked him how we could believe that he 
had thoughtfully considered the public's concerns, when less than 3 
days later, the Chairman published an op-ed in the New York Times 
outlining his plan for media consolidation.
  Clearly, Chairman Martin is not listening to the American people, and 
now we need to step up and ensure that their voices are heard. I hope 
my colleagues here in Congress will join me in this eftort, and I hope 
this legislation moves swiftly.

                          ____________________