Bob Menendez: “today we are considering a critical piece of legislation. The resolution of disapproval is critical to the diversity of…”

“today we are considering a critical piece of legislation. The resolution of disapproval is critical to the diversity of our media and I would like to thank Senator Dorgan for his leadership on the issue. In December, the FCC pushed through new media ownership rules on a partisan three to two vote. The proposal strips newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership rules that have protected diversity for 32 years in the top 20 markets. This proposal has been described by the chairman as a modest rules change. That since it is restricted to the top 20 markets, and since it only applies to television stations not in the top 4 in ratings in those markets, its some sort of compromise. The reality is that is simply not true. To begin with, 44 percent of Americans live in the top 20 markets. This includes my State of New Jersey, which is split by two of the largest markets in the country. And there are a number of loopholes in the rule. Companies looking to consolidate either outside the top 20 markets or to purchase one of the 4 largest stations need only be granted a waiver from the FCC. The standards for granting these waivers are vague at best. Here is an example: one of the standards a company must show in order for a waiver to be granted is whether the broadcast station has enough editorial independence. How does anybody quantify that? The fact is there is no way to objectively judge the parameters Chairman Martin's rule requires to grant the waivers.”