Did we win the war against more media concentration or just one very big and important battle? The historic federal appeals court decision overturning last year's dangerous FCC decision promoting even more extreme consolidation and
concentration in media is a tremendous victory for the writers, producers,
directors, performers, and others who create America's entertainment media. But more important, it is a tremendous victory for the American people.
"[Deregulation] is going nowhere," said one well-placed industry source, according to TelevisionWeek. "We have now heard from the American people, Congress and the courts," said Democratic FCC Commissioner Michael Copps. The rush to media consolidation approved by the FCC last June was wrong as a matter of law and policy."
But FCC Chairman Michael Powell claims the decision might make it "dramatically more difficult for the agency to protect against greater media consolidation" [On our Blog, read our related commentary, "Michael Powell Lays an Egg" here]
Stay tuned!
The following is a statement from Jonathan Rintels, Executive Director of the
Center for Creative Voices in Media, concerning today's federal appeals court
decision overturning last year's FCC decision allowing greater media
consolidation and concentration:
"Today's historic federal appeals court decision overturning last year's
dangerous FCC decision promoting even more extreme consolidation and
concentration in media is a tremendous victory for the writers, producers,
directors, performers, and others who create America's entertainment media. But
more important, it is a tremendous victory for the American people. Our
nation's democracy and culture are strengthened by a wide diversity of
viewpoints and voices in our media.
As CCVM demonstrated to the FCC in our
Petition for Reconsideration of its media ownership decision, the FCC's
decision would have decimated the few diverse viewpoints and voices left in
television, and therefore was fatally flawed. Unfortunately, the FCC refused to
reconsider.
Fortunately, however, for creative artists and the American audience, the Court
of Appeals recognized the merits of these arguments. We're gratified by the
court's decision and heartened by its careful analysis and thoughtful
reasoning. This decision will withstand the toughest scrutiny and lays down
important principles for the future of media regulation.
CCVM is proud to have continued to fight against these fatally flawed FCC media
ownership rules on behalf of creative artists and the creative community. We
look forward to continuing that fight, so that America's media may once again
support a wide diversity of viewpoints and voices. Not only will creative
artists benefit, so will the American public."
Appeals Court Overturns FCC Media Ownership Decision
