FCC chief defends changes in media rules

FCC CHIEF DEFENDS CHANGES IN MEDIA RULES
[SOURCE: Associated Press 12/25/07, AUTHOR: John Dunbar]
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Kevin Martin is disputing assertions that a new rule loosening restrictions on media ownership is full of loopholes and will lead to a wave of mergers and fewer choices for consumers. Fellow FCC Commissioner Michael Copps described the commission's decision approving the measure as "one that would make George Orwell proud," referring to the English author best known for his novels critiquing totalitarianism and for popularizing the phrase "Big Brother is watching you." Chairman Martin said the Commission action was a "relatively minor loosening" of a single rule. The conflicting impressions say a lot about the divisive nature of the media ownership debate. Too much media in the hands of too few companies raises fears of an emerging corporate big brother and fewer news and information sources.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/24-12242007-1461449.html

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