A Clear Channel to Supporting Media Monopolies

***UPDATE*** IT'S OFFICIAL.

Dan Gillmor of the Mercury News examines today's almost certain decision to relax "rules governing corporate ownership of multiple media outlets, potentially unleashing a wave of consolidation that could put the nation's TV, radio stations and newspapers into the hands of fewer owners." Snippet:

"Among the changes likely to be approved:
• A single company could own up to three TV stations in a single market, such as the Bay Area;
• A company could own TV stations reaching 45 percent of the nation's viewing audience, up from the current 35 percent cap;
• A company could own both a newspaper and a TV station in all but the smallest markets.
The Bay Area market, which includes San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland, is typical of other major markets. One-fourth of the region's TV stations are owned by major TV networks. The nation's two largest radio groups -- Clear Channel Communications and Viacom's Infinity Broadcasting -- own nearly one-third of the local radio stations. And the two largest newspapers, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Mercury News, are owned by larger companies that also own other media properties across the nation."

Dan then asks, what can we do next: (snippet)

"Assuming the fix is in, let's ask a different question: Where do we go from here? We, the people, need to understand what's happening, and why. Then we need to get angry. We need to get organized, and take the fight back to the halls of power. And we need to call Powell's bluff. He's reassuring everyone that our fears are groundless, but now he has to back his lofty words with genuine action."

Read the entire article HERE.

Finally, Tom Shales of the Washington Post gives his effusive rant about the whole issue. Snippet:

"Unless something dramatic and unexpected occurs to stop it, this is what will happen today in Washington: The Republican chairman of the Republican-dominated Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and his Republican majority will revise long-standing rules on media ownership in ways that will hugely benefit, among others, rich Republicans. Revising and relaxing the rules that prohibit a single entity from controlling too large a percentage of American media will allow corporations that are already too big to become much, much bigger. Also much more powerful and much more oblivious to the common good. The proposed changes are such a threat to First Amendment freedoms that even some Republicans on Capitol Hill have been brave enough to oppose them. And yet, a fat lot of good it does. FCC Chairman Michael Powell wants to plow ahead with his deregulation scheme no matter what. It appears he is trying to do more damage than any other chairman in FCC history."