Democrats Move to Reregulate Media

[shraby]

Two liberal House members who recently have been critical of what they view as attempts by conservative Republicans to take over America’s mass media and public broadcasting have now introduced a sweeping bill that would reregulate radio and TV back to the days before the 1996 Telecommunications Act.

The Media Ownership Reform Act of 2005 (MORA) is co-sponsored by Reps. Maurice Hinchey, D-N.Y. and Diane Watson, D-Calif. In a written announcement, MORA is described as legislation “that seeks to undo the massive consolidation of the media that has been ongoing for nearly 20 years.”

<http://mediachannel.org/blog/node/189>

This is a short article..it also says it will bring back the fairness doctrine.

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. We NEED to retake the House

this will NEVER pass under Republican contrl, that does not mean I will not demand my Rep co sponsors

[KharmaTrain]

5. There Are Democrats Who Voted For Telcom '96

And there still there today. Unfortunately there's a lot of money that flows from the communications companies...that's what got Democrats in bed with Telcom '96 in the first place.

From one with a lifelong knowledge on this issue, there are some things I see are needed, some that won't be done and others still not included. But at least there's a start and far better than what's out there right now.

Radio's facing some of its worst economic times ever and the industry could easily default into chaos if things continue. Dereg destroyed local radio along with thousands of jobs. But new opportunities are out there and out there now...it's having a government that encourages its development, not the current attitude of protecting the large interests.

While I say there are Democrats who would not vote for any repeal of Telcom '96 or other previous dereg bills (I'm in favor of turning back the clock to the mid 80's with the re-institution of the 3 year rule...license renewals every 3 not 7 years and a person must own a station for 3 years before they can sell it...to knock out the trafficking)...there are some Repugnicans that would cross over to join us.

[dbt]

13. Pay attention. KharmaTrain speaks the Truth!

I also have lifelong knowledge of the industry and he is DEAD ON IT.

[Just Me]

21. Ya' think they are realizing how STUPID their decision was?

I sure do.

I do believe that, one of our multi-tasking activist pushes MUST involve pressuring the media.

This legislation includes re-instating the Fairness Doctrine in addition to placing reigns on the profiteering media SHARKS!!!

In my mind, our focus should be on three issues: demanding accountability of our tyranny, demanding responsibility from the media, suing Diebold.

[Trillo]

2. Seems like a good idea.

There seems to be a lot of 'rolling back' necessary these days.

[Fridays Child]

3. Howard Dean talked about this in 2003.

Some say that the media gave him the kiss of death for it.

[Melodybe]

4. holy shit! color me shocked! Every Democrat on the hill should be

screaming for the repeal of the Telecommunications act.

Oh please let them pick up this cause.

Kicked and nominated!

[KittyWampus]

17. Dean Didn't Talk Any More About Media Deregulation Then Any Other

Dem candidates.

All he did was make one or two vague remarks that his advocates construed to mean he favored total reregulation.

But then so did Kerry. Clark, I can't remember him touching this except to comment on the Rightwing Attack Machine.

Let's not revise history to make Dean any more 'progressive' then he actually was as a candidate... especially as compared to the rest of the field.

[Fridays Child]

20. He announced, on Hardball, his intention to break up the media giants.

It sunk him.

http://www.makethemaccountable.com/podvin/media/040201_TheScream.htm

[Raksha]

6. This is great news!

It probably won't pass until the Democrats re-take the House, but it will be good to see some public debate on the subject of media consolidation. If any of our Dems don't support it, we need to know that too. I want them to go on record on this one--that way we know who's really on our side and who isn't.

[tritsofme]

8. So...what makes you think Democrats would pass this bill?

Remember who was President in 1996 and signed the bill in the first place?

[paineinthearse]

7. This is one of three reforms needed NOW

The other two rolling back corporations having "personhood" and the last being voter-verifyable paper ballots.

Nominated!

[Selatius]

9. Big money dominates Congress

Even if Democrats take back the White House, the Senate, and the House, it is still no guarantee that such a thing would pass. It was Democrats as well as Republicans who helped pass the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and it was Bill Clinton who signed it into law.

The issue is special interest money and the power it buys.

[many a good man]

10. STUPIDEST timing in the world

Now's the wrong time. You know how the big boys react to this kind of thing. Now that we've got the WH on the ropes and journalists finally doing their jobs we don't want to stymie them.

Let Treasongate play itself out first. The media will be patting themselves on the backs for being such saviors, but the people will be wondering why they weren't doing their jobs four years earlier.

[blondeatlast]

14. NOT--introduced July 14, 2005. It can take months to work

through the system, perhaps coming up for a vote sometime, oh, in early to mid 2006.

Making the press focus on covering its own ass, rather than shilling for the Republicans...

The press can't shill for it without looking greedy and self-centered. They can't have supporters of the bill on the news shows shilling for it for the same reason.

It might be excellent timing, actually.

[stickdog]

11. This is priority #1A after fraud-o-matic voting machines. (nt)

[Judi Lynn]

12. It's a crime the Republicans were able to destroy the Fairness Doctrine

in the first place. Criminals!

Thanks for this post. Good luck to Congresspeople Maurice Hinchey and Diane Watson. They may become heroes!

[blondeatlast]

15. Here's a link to Thomas; I can never successfully link directly

to the bills--it's HR 3302; just type the numbers in the search box and you'll find it: http://thomas.loc.gov

Cosponsors so far: Mr. HINCHEY (for himself, Ms. WATSON, Ms. LEE, Ms. WOOLSEY, Ms. KAPTUR, Ms. SLAUGHTER, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, Ms. WATERS, Mr. STARK, Mr. FILNER, Mr. DEFAZIO, Ms. SOLIS, Mr. MCDERMOTT, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. OWENS, and Mr. SANDERS) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce

Read through it, it's fairly concise and mercifully short.

[tx_dem41]

16. I like the idea of reregulating media ownership....

I still don't see how you can adequately enforce the Fairness Doctrine though.

[Deja Q]

18. After the 1996 telecom act, 9 years is a little late...

But at least they're trying to do the right thing.

[DeepModem Mom]

19. kick

[lala_rawraw]

22. Well about screaming madness time, no?