The rule changes are seen as a major victory for media giants, including CBS parent Viacom, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. and Tribune Co.

The FCC voted to relax rules governing media consolidation yesterday by a 3 to 2 vote along party lines.

The Republicans commissioners, led by chair Michael Powell, claimed the rules were out of date with the rise of cable, satellite TV and Internet.

The actions are seen as a major victory for media giants, including CBS parent Viacom, Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. and Tribune Co.

The two dissident commissioners, Jonanthan Adelstein and Michael Copps, said the lifting of the rules will stifle free speech. They said as local media operations are absorbed by large corporations, the news will become even more homogenized and unpopular viewpoints, including those of people of color, will be forced off the airwaves.

• Michael Copps, FCC Commissioner
• W. Kenneth Ferree, FCC Media Bureau Chief
• Medea Benjamin, Co-Founder and Founding Director of Global Exchange
• Hannah Sassaman, Prometheus Radio Project

Links:

Prometheus Radio Project

Global Exchange

Well Connected–The Center for Public Integrity