House Democrats ask regulators to delay media ownership decision

DAVID HO, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, May 14, 2003

(05-14) 14:15 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

Nearly 100 House Democrats asked Federal Communications Commission

Chairman Michael Powell Wednesday to publicly justify his agency's

plans for overhauling media ownership restrictions before making the

changes.

The 92 Democrats and one independent said in a letter that a flood of

media mergers could follow the commission's June 2 vote to change

decades-old rules governing the ownership of newspapers and TV and

radio stations.

"The notion that a handful of corporations and their executives could

wind up controlling much of the information, news and cultural options

available to Americans should be a chilling concept to most people,"

the lawmakers said. "The American public and Congress deserve an

opportunity to review and comment on your proposed changes before they

go into effect."

The Democrats included Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California and

Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland.

The FCC could not immediately confirm the letter had been received.

Responding to similar letters from lawmakers sent in recent weeks,

Powell has said there is no reason to delay the vote.

Other lawmakers, mainly Republicans, and Commerce Secretary Donald

Evans have urged Powell to stay on schedule.

Powell and the two other Republicans on the commission favor loosening

regulations, an outcome sought by many large media companies that say

the rules are outdated and hurt business.

On Tuesday, the two Democrats on the five-member commission asked

Powell to push back the vote by a month to give them more time to

study an internal agency proposal that recommends easing ownership

restrictions. Powell said he would consider the request.

The proposed plan would allow companies to own more TV stations in

local markets, reaching more U.S. homes. It also would eliminate many

restrictions on one company owning combinations of newspapers and TV

and radio stations in the same city.

The National Rifle Association said Wednesday it had joined the ranks

of consumer groups, musicians, writers and academics who oppose easing

the restrictions. The NRA asked its members to write Powell and

lawmakers in support of the existing rules, said Wayne LaPierre, the

NRA's executive vice president.

"These big media conglomerates are already pushing out diversity of

political opinion," LaPierre said.

Earlier Wednesday, Republican FCC Commissioner Kathleen Abernathy told

reporters she supports positions similar to those outlined in the

draft plan.

The FCC is considering allowing a single company to own TV stations

that reach 45 percent of U.S. households instead of the current 35

percent. Abernathy said she favors going as high as 50 percent.

The major TV networks want the cap eliminated. Smaller broadcasters

say a higher limit will allow the networks to buy more stations and

weaken local control of programming.

On the Net:

Federal Communications Commission: www.fcc.gov