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Court Blocks FCC's Media Consolidation Rules
In a big blow to media giants and FCC Chairman Michael Powell, a federal appeals court in Philadelphia issued an order today blocking the Federal Communications Commission from imposing new rules that would let TV and newspaper conglomerates get even bigger.
The Wednesday decision, which follows Congressional action to repeal parts of the new regulations, came one day before the rules were scheduled to take effect. CWA President Morton Bahr applauded the ruling.
"The FCC ignored the concerns of average Americans and it has come back to haunt them," Bahr said. "This decision should give pause to other federal agencies that are rushing to push regulations into effect that benefit big business at the expense of workers and consumers."
The three-judge panel voted unanimously to prevent media companies from moving forward with plans to take advantage of the new rules, at least until the outcome of litigation. The order also raises questions about whether the rules will ever be allowed to take effect, the New York Times reported.
The rules that the court blocked include one that would allow the same company to own newspapers and broadcast stations in the same city and another that would allow a company to own as many as three television stations and eight radio stations in the same market.
The Wednesday decision, which follows Congressional action to repeal parts of the new regulations, came one day before the rules were scheduled to take effect. CWA President Morton Bahr applauded the ruling.
"The FCC ignored the concerns of average Americans and it has come back to haunt them," Bahr said. "This decision should give pause to other federal agencies that are rushing to push regulations into effect that benefit big business at the expense of workers and consumers."
The three-judge panel voted unanimously to prevent media companies from moving forward with plans to take advantage of the new rules, at least until the outcome of litigation. The order also raises questions about whether the rules will ever be allowed to take effect, the New York Times reported.
The rules that the court blocked include one that would allow the same company to own newspapers and broadcast stations in the same city and another that would allow a company to own as many as three television stations and eight radio stations in the same market.