Behind Closed Doors

We should probably have a contest--that way we could enjoy one last moment of creative freedom before every media outlet is absorbed into the borg. Our contest would be a competition to determine the name of the newly created media empire in the High Country--one that is comprised of MTN, Aisling Broadcasting, High Country Media, and the High Country Press--all operated by a single owner.

You see, it seems that the FCC is trying to allow yet another round of media consolidation, essentially removing one of the last remaining barriers standing in the way of complete monopoly. The FCC wants to make it OK for a company to own both a newspaper and a television or radio station in the same town.

Problem is, the FCC decided in secret to move ahead with this plan--but it seems that they got caught. The FCC Chairman has made some folks pretty upset, too:

Chairman Martin’s secret plans were uncovered during a Commerce Committee hearing yesterday by Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.), one of the most vocal critics of media consolidation. Sen. Dorgan has co-authored a letter with Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) to the FCC calling for a more transparent and open public review of the media ownership rules.

“We do not believe the Commission has adequately studied the impact of media consolidation,” wrote Sens. Dorgan and Lott. “The FCC should not rush forward and repeat mistakes of the past. The Commission is under considerable scrutiny with this proceeding. We strongly encourage you to slow down and proceed with caution.”

Chairman Martin has a history of working behind closed doors on behalf of big media companies. According to a report by the Government Accountability Office, the FCC consistently leaks vital information on sensitive votes and rules to corporate lobbyists and stakeholders. In contrast, the report found that consumer and public interest groups were left in the dark.

...

The agency commissioned ten ownership studies with no public input or transparency on the studies’ authors, methodology or peer review — then gave the public a paltry 60 days to review eight months of research. A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request revealed that the research agenda was crafted with a bias towards studies supporting consolidation.

“The chairman has already decided what rule changes he wants to make — he is just going through the motions,” said Dr. Mark Cooper, director of research at Consumer Federation of America. “The FCC hasn’t even received all of the public comment in this proceeding, and Martin is already scheduling a vote.”

...

“When we let a few giant conglomerates control so many outlets, quality journalism turns into junk media, and our democracy suffers,” said Silver. “Media consolidation is a one way street and there’s no turning back.”

Letter from Sens. Dorgan and Lott:
http://www.freepress.net/docs/dorgan_lott_fcc_10.17.07.pdf

Democracy should not have to lose because of Big Media's late realization that they paid way too much for the outlets they purchased during the last round of consolidation. Nor should democracy lose because many of these same Big Media companies are being held to highly unrealistic profit margin expectations by Wall Street or their own management--profit margins which are simply incompatible with quality journalism.

Make no mistake--this latest FCC proposal is all about bailing Big Media out from the burden of these past foolish purchases (made by Big Media!)--by allowing them to exercise monopoly power--and finally make some REAL money. The heck with democracy.