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Hill bill would restore broadcast regulation
Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), along with several of his Democratic House colleagues, is introducing HR 4069, the "Media Ownership Reform Act of 2004." As he described it at a meeting in the Capitol yesterday (7/20/04), it would be a sweeping proposal which would go further, even, than the resolution of disapproval approved by the Senate last year.
Beyond rolling back the FCC ruling, it would restore the Fairness Doctrine. Hinchey said the bill was designed to "...restore fairness in broadcasting, reduce media concentration, ensure that broadcasters meet their public interest requirements, and promote diversity, localism, and competition in American media."
"While it is vitally important to stop the FCC from allowing media outlets from being concentrated in the hands of fewer and fewer corporations, it is also imperative that we reverse the erosion of public interest protections that has occurred since the 1980s," he continued.
Referring to a study of news professional conducted by a number of trade unions, Hinchey said, "The survey released today demonstrates that great damage has already been done. The FCC must restore concern for the public good as the primary factor in its decision-making."
The FCC ruling continues to provoke intense reactions, as several members of Congress on hand demonstrated. David Price (D-NC) said, "We must not stop fighting until we overturn these misguided rules and return the airwaves to the public." Added Jay Inslee (D-WA), "While Commissioner Powell did not listen to good arguments, perhaps he will listen to a two-by-four between the eyes from the district court." Bernie Sanders (I-VT) noted the absence of television cameras at the session, saying the lack of coverage by big media of this big media issue showed why the fight was difficult as well as why it must be continued.
TVBR observation:
Republican House leaders have to date fended off a vote on the Resolution of Disapproval passed twice in the Senate, albeit in different form. That is precisely what will happen to this bill in the 108th Congress. HR 4069 isn't going anywhere, despite the Democrats' claim that they would prevail in a floor vote of the full body. Unless the Democrats pull off a major upset this November and win back the House, this bill isn't going anywhere ever.
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