FCC worthless

Wednesday, June 11th, 2003

I think I’ve neglected to mention it on this site before, but the FCC has removed restrictions preventing companies from owning all the media outlets in a city. Basically this means that one organization can eliminate your access to opposing views. Jeffrey Zeldman has explained this in greater detail complete with links to other sources, so I’ll let him do it.

I instead would like to post the form response I got from Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, basically being extremely noncommital and saying that he won’t do anything about it. The letter could almost be a response to someone who is writing from either side of the issue which is quite impressive if it weren’t so maddening. Crapo says that he is not on the Senate Commerce Committee, but will watch the proceedings, and watch out for Idaho. I have gotten a lot of responses to letters to representatives in my time, but I think this is the most noncommital I have ever gotten, and it makes me sad. I would rather get a letter saying that he completely disagrees with me for this that and the other reason, and will work hard to ensure that the FCC hands over the media to conglomerates than something like this.

This will not stop me from writing to my representatives though. I truly believe that if enough people write enough letters about important issues, that our representatives will be more careful about voting for measures that hurt their constituents. I encourage you all to write to your representatives whenever you see the goverment thinking about doing something that you disagree with or will hurt you. You may get frustrating letters, and it may seem to make no difference, but it will if enough people start doing it.

Clicking on the picture of the letter on the left leads to the letter full sized in Word format. I’m sorry if you don’t like it, but I got the letter in that format, and I couldn’t get it out with out it looking like crap.

By UltraBob at 02:41 PM Link to this post here!
1 comment


  • on June 12th, 2003 12:57 AM Sako said:

    ...basically being extremely noncommital and saying that he won’t do anything about it.

    [shrugs]

    Well, what do you expect from a guy named Crapo? wink

    At least my guy, Mike DeWine, is taking a firm stance on the issue:

    Statement of Senators DeWine and Kohl on the F.C.C.’s Media Ownership Rulemaking

    “We have serious reservations with the FCC’s decision today to substantially lift media ownership limits, and will be shortly conducting a hearing at the Antitrust Subcommittee to examine its implications for competition. We continue to believe that only diversity of ownership can preserve the diversity of news, information and entertainment sources essential to our democracy. A wide range of voices must be maintained in order to ensure a thriving and vibrant marketplace of ideas. Accordingly, we will be scrutinizing future media mergers at the Antitrust Subcommittee to examine their impact on the marketplace of ideas. Now that the FCC has significantly relaxed its media ownership limits, many expect a renewed wave of mergers and acquisitions throughout the media sector. The antitrust agencies must enforce the antitrust laws vigorously to protect against excessive media concentration. We will expect the Justice Department and FTC to scrutinize media mergers and acquisitions closely. We urge both agencies to stand guard to prevent deals which will substantially injure competition in these industries that are so vital in providing the news and information relied upon by millions of Americans.”

    I never thought I would be pleased with Ohio Republicans, but DeWine and Voinovich have really been standing up for the middle class this year. It’s almost like they have principles or something.  :-p