Bill in Congress to Address Media Concentration

[Eric J in MN]

From the Hollywood Reporter via mediachannel.org:

Democrats Move to Reregulate Media By Bill Holland

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.” The measure would restore the Fairness doctrine, reinstate a national cap on radio ownership and lower the number of radio stations a company can own in a local market. It also reinstates a 25% national television ownership cap and requires stations to submit regular public interest reports to the Federal Commnications Commission.

Read More at SpeakSpeak News or Move Left.

[dave502d]

1. This is big. Thank you. n/t

[Eric J in MN]

2. The bill seems too good to pass a Republican Congress (nt)

nt

[kentuck]

3. Sorry... a day late and a dollar short....

Why didn't they do this when the Democrats were in power? Do they really expect the Repubs to put any restrictions on Hannity, O'Reilly, Rush, and all their right-wing friends. Probably just a waste of time, would be my guess...