[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 44 (Friday, March 14, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E435]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             SEATTLE TIMES EDITORIAL: A CHANCE TO STAND UP

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                         HON. DAVID G. REICHERT

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, March 14, 2008

  Mr. REICHERT. Madam Speaker, I would like to submit the following 
article from Monday, March 10, 2008 into the Record:

                          A Chance To Stand Up

       Congress has a chance to do what the Federal Communications 
     Commission did not. Protect democracy and serve the public.
       The Senate can start by adopting North Dakota Democrat Sen. 
     Byron Dorgan's ``resolution of disapproval.'' The grumpy-
     sounding legislation would scrap a new FCC rule that lifts 
     the cross-ownership ban, which forbade a company from owning 
     a newspaper, television station and radio station in the same 
     market. The FCC adopted a sneaky new rule change in December. 
     Commission Chairman Kevin Martin portrayed the new rule as 
     restrained because it would only apply to the nation's top 20 
     media markets. A closer reading reveals that it is far-
     reaching, allowing for exceptions.
       Not encouraging, considering the FCC's demonstrated 
     willingness to hand out exemptions to its rules.
       The FCC's troubling rush to appease big media conglomerates 
     must be checked. The public was overwhelmingly against media 
     concentration at every FCC hearing in the past couple of 
     years. The commission not only ignored its public-interest 
     charge, but also disregarded its own studies that showed the 
     damage done to local news by consolidation.
       This is not the first time the Senate has pushed back 
     against the FCC. A resolution was broadly supported in 2003 
     to block an earlier FCC attempt to abolish the cross-
     ownership ban. Republican opposition was led by Sen. John 
     McCain. The vote ended up being symbolic because the 
     Republican-held House refused to enact its own resolution.
       Washington has changed since 2003. Expect the Senate to get 
     this resolution through, and for the House to follow.
       More media consolidation will further gut the news outlets 
     that are essential to maintaining a vigorous, informed 
     democracy. Congress has a chance to slap the FCC back into 
     line, while protecting the public at the same time.

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