FCC Ignores Public, Relaxes Media Ownership

anthrax writes "Ignoring Congressional and public comments, the FCC voted to relax ownership rules that have prevented broadcasters from owning newspapers in the nation's 20 largest media markets. After holding several public hearings that overwhelmingly opposed the relaxation of the rules, and Congressional hearing where Democrats and Republicans (even Ted 'Tubes' Stevens) voiced opposition to the move, the FCC voted 3 to 2 to relax ownership. On the same day the FCC voted 3 to 2 (by a different split) to cap the size of any cable company at 30% of the nationwide market, a limit Comcast is up against."

This is an outrage

[Anonymous Coward]

The brazen disregard show by those 3 commissioners is absolutely shameful. How dare they defy the will of Comcast?

Thank God

[Malevolent Tester]

As an Englishman, the one flaw in my inborn sense of cultural superiority has been the lack of Rupert Murdoch owned tabloids in America. Thank you, FCC.

Re:Thank God

[GaryPatterson]

As an Australian, I apologise to you for Rupert Murdoch.

We're very, very sorry.

Re:isn't democracy great?

[kartan]

I don't think that any government decision related to newspapers will have "a huge impact on the future of communications in this country."

Older folks still read newspapers and vote in greater numbers than younger folks.

Umm...today's older folks won't be around in the future. That's what makes them older.

Re:Thank God

[Anonymous Coward]

I only buy Hustler to hide my New York Post in...

Re:isn't democracy great?

[Anonymous Coward]

Umm...today's older folks won't be around in the future. That's what makes them older.

None of us will be around in the future, given a long enough timeline.

Re:How the hell?

[Anonymous Coward]

The law covers acquisitions, which is about the only way cable companies grow anyway. The cable market is pretty much saturated -- in fact, it's probably shrinking slightly due to Dish/DirectTV. Laws are not computer code, and Comcast is not going to throw an assertion failure the moment some guy switches to Comcast.