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cism of the proposed rule changes.
After the commission voted for them, public outcry led to votes in the US House and Senate for different measures to override some or all of the FCC decisions regarding the rules. But pressure from the Bush Administration, and moves by House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Texas) to block necessary votes, have so far prevented the reconciliation of the House and Senate stances.
By blocking Congressional action that could resolve the issue, Bush and DeLay have placed themselves in direct opposition to clearly expressed public sentiments.
More than two million Americans have contacted the FCC and members of Congress demanding retention of limits on media monopoly at the local level and controls on consolidation of broadcast media ownership nationally. And they now have the courts on their side.
The court challenge to the FCC ruling, which was brought by the Prometheus Radio Project in Philadelphia, was considered a long shot initially, as the courts have historically been slow to intervene in such matters. But with strong support from the Media Access Project, lawyers for the Prometheus Radio Project and allied media-reform groups were able to convince the judges in Philadelphia that the FCC had endorsed rule changes that posed a genuine threat to localism, diversity and competition--which the FCC is supposed to protect.
"This outstanding decision comes at a time when unprecedented debate on the role of media outlets in Americans' lives is taking place," said Prometheus Program Director Hannah Sassaman. "Thousands of Americans are telling the Commission and everyone who will listen that consolidation is bad for their communities and families. It is of paramount importance that the FCC use that testimony to inform new ownership rules that will preserve and protect America's diverse, local voices."
Will that happen? Congressional critics of the FCC aren't placing much faith in the commission--at least as it is currently composed.
That's why Sanders, Hinchey, US Senator Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota) and a bipartisan coalition of media-reformers in both houses of Congress continue to promote legislation that would permanently prevent the FCC from writing rules that favor big media. "The court decision is step one," says Sanders. "The American people, however, will not be satisfied until Congress has totally ended the very dangerous idea of allowing more media consolidation. Now, it is time to become proactive and to fight for legislation which will allow for more localism, more diversity of opinion and more competition in the media."
John Nichols, The Nation's Washington correspondent, has covered progressive politics and activism in the United States and abroad for more than a decade. He is currently the editor of the editorial page of Madison, Wisconsin's Capital Times. Nichols is the author of two books: It's the Media, Stupid and Jews for Buchanan.
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