[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 24453-24454]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



           MERGERS IN THE MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS INDUSTRIES

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, we are in the midst of an unprecedented 
wave of mergers and concentration in the media and the communications 
industries. We are talking about the flow of information in democracy 
and whether a few are going to control this. But instead of doing 
anything about it, to protect American consumers or to safeguard the 
flow of information that our democracy depends upon, I am troubled by 
efforts underway to undermine protections that are already on the 
books.
  I cite that the CBS-Viacom merger announced last month would be the 
biggest media deal ever. Today, the FCC announced its approval of a 
merger between SBC and Ameritech. On Tuesday, Clear Channel 
Communications announced that it is buying AMFM to create a huge radio 
conglomerate with 830 stations that will dominate American radio.
  I am amazed so few people are concerned about these developments. The 
reason I rise to speak about this is that when FCC Chairman Bill 
Kennard is so bold as to point out that the MCI-Sprint deal would 
undermine competition, he is simply doing his job. I want to say on the 
floor of the Senate, he should not be punished for doing his job.
  Last year, when the FCC approved the merger of Worldcom and MCI, 
Chairman Kennard said the industry was one merger away from undue 
concentration. Now this merger would be the one that pushes us over the 
top.
  So when Antitrust Division Chief Joel Klein of the Justice Department 
brings some very difficult cases to enforce our country's antitrust 
laws, he is simply doing his job. When FCC Chairman Bill Kennard raises 
these kinds of questions, he is simply doing his job.
  We cannot expect these agencies to enforce our laws, to do their job, 
if we take away their budgets or their statutory authority every time 
they do it. We need to strengthen our review of these mergers. We need 
to strength our antitrust laws, on which I think we have to do much 
better. And we need to give the Justice Department, the FTC, and the 
FCC the resources they need to enforce the law.
  So more than anything else, I rise to support Bill Kennard's 
concerns, to tell him he is doing his job, and urge my colleagues to 
understand that he has an important responsibility to protect

[[Page 24454]]

the consumers. The flow of information in our democracy is the most 
important thing we have. He certainly should not be punished for doing 
his job and doing his job well.
  I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BINGAMAN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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