Thomas Daschle: “Mr. President, the Senate faces a critical decision today--whether new media ownership rules proposed by the FCC truly…”

“Mr. President, the Senate faces a critical decision today--whether new media ownership rules proposed by the FCC truly serve the public interest. They do not, and we should pass this resolution of disapproval and force the FCC to rework them. On June 2, 2003, the Federal Communications Commission adopted new broadcast media ownership rules that would allow greater concentration of ownership of U.S. broadcast television stations, both at the national and local levels. At the national level, a single owner could own stations capable of reaching up to 45 percent of the national audience--up from 35 percent--under the new rules. A single entity could reach up to twice that percentage of the national audience if he or she owned UHF stations. In most markets, duopolies ownership of two stations in the same market would be allowed, and triopolies would be allowed in the largest markets. The new rules would also allow cross-ownership of broadcast television stations and major newspapers in all but the smallest of media markets as well as greater cross-ownership of television and radio stations. The rules would theoretically allow one owner to reach 90 percent of national TV audience and, in a large market, own three television stations, eight radio stations, the only daily newspaper, and the cable company. The public overwhelmingly opposes these new rules.”