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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2009
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FCC Angers All Sides With New Media Rules

Cable companies fume at limits, and senators protest relaxed regs

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(Newser) – The FCC is set to push through new rules on media ownership today, to the consternation of everyone from telecoms to free-speech advocates, writes the Wall Street Journal. The commission will introduce two new regulations: one will allow media companies to buy both newspapers and television stations in the top 20 markets, and the other will limit the market shares of any single cable companies to 30% of the market.

Kevin Martin's tenure as chairman of the FCC has drawn uncommon bipartisan disapproval: yesterday 25 senators from both parties warned him that they would introduce legislation to block the media ownership plan. As for the cable companies that expected Bush-style laissez-faire business policy, they find that the chairman is unexpectedly interventionist. None of this is stopping Martin, who claims his unpopularity is proof he's succeeding.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin Martin speaks during a hearing on localism, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007, at the FCC headquarters in Washington. Federal regulators on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007, approved a rule that would ban exclusive agreements that cable television operators have with apartment buildings, opening up competition for...
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin Martin speaks during a hearing on localism, Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2007, at the FCC headquarters in Washington. Federal regulators on Wednesday, Oct....   (Associated Press)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin J. Martin, left, accompanied by commissioners Michael J. Copps, center, and Jonathan S. Adelstein, right, reviews documents as he testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Feb. 1, 2007 before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin J. Martin, left, accompanied by commissioners Michael J. Copps, center, and Jonathan S. Adelstein, right, reviews documents as he testifies on Capitol...   (Associated Press)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin J. Martin, left, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, in this Feb. 1, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin J. Martin, left, testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, in this Feb. 1, 2007 file photo. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)   (Associated Press)
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