I used to think Michael Powell was doing a fine thing by shaking up the moribund Federal Communications Commission. Now I think he’s just a tool for the monopolistic telecommunications companies intent on owning all the media.
Powell was instrumental in the FCC’s controversial decision to relax media ownership rules (like we need more monopolies), and did this in spite of the vocal opposition of many people from all political persuasions. Seeing how the voice of the little guy was getting drowned by the flood of dollars pouring in from the big networks, Congress took matters into its own hands, drawing up legislation to repeal any FCC rulings relaxing ownership rules. This legislation has a good chance of passing both houses and heading to the President, who may have a hard time vetoing it.
Now that Powell sees the forces lining up against him, he has suddenly got religion and now wants to explore localism. This is the same guy who said “we don’t need local forums” when the other commissioners sought public input on the ownership rules. Only when Powell is about to have his ass handed to him by Congress does he get a clue.
I’m hoping this whole incident raises public awareness about how our airwaves are being mismanaged.
Find out how to make your voice heard by heading over to the Center for Digital Democracy.
This legislation has a good chance of passing both houses and heading to the President, who may have a hard time vetoing it.
Oh, he’ll veto it all right. This President doesn’t even bother to put on the facade of caring about people with less than $50 million to their name any more.