Broadcasting and the Unabashed Regulator

BROADCASTING AND THE UNABASHED REGULATOR
[SOURCE: tvnewsday, AUTHOR: Harry A. Jessell]
A Q&A with Federal Communications Commission Commissioner Michael Copps who some speculate would be the agency's next Chairman if a Democrat wins the White House in 2008. For most broadcasters, he’s a reason to vote Republican. During his six years as a commissioner, Commissioner Copps has vigorously opposed loosening ownership regulations and made it clear that any new privileges the FCC grants broadcasters will be laden with serious, new public interest obligations. What really bugs broadcasters about Commissioner Copps is that even as a member of the FCC’s Democratic minority he has been highly effective in pushing his agenda. Working with outside groups, Copps has managed to slow FCC Chairman Kevin Martin’s effort to relax ownership restrictions to a point where many believe it may not happen at all. Jessell asks what his agenda would be if he were Chairman (reinvigorating some public interest responsibilities, improving broadband penetration, addressing homeland security), increasing minority ownership of broadcast outlets, media ownership consolidation, indecency regulation, violence regulation, the Fairness doctrine, and digital must-carry.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2007/05/22/daily.2/