Harold Feld, whom I've mentioned here before, is a lawyer for the
Media Access Project who fights for media rights in the interests of democracy, as opposed to corporate interests. He does the best analysis I of which I'm aware of the quid-pro-quo between media companies and the powers-that-be. It's often pretty scary and demoralizing stuff. On the other hand, it's nice to know we have a dog in the fight.
His current article on Wetmachine.com is about a motion that he recently filed with the FCC about Clear Channel's attempt to block satelite radio.
(Disclosure: wetmachine is my blog.)
Feld writes:
Only in Washington would the Clear Channels of the world, those great champions of efficiencies and deregulation, declare that their monopoly on local content must be protected with regulation. And only in Washington would the deregulatory anti-big-government Republicans lap it up with a spoon. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has petitioned the FCC and Congress to prohibit the new satellite radio competitors from providing local content (mostly traffic and weather). Of course, this is moving at hyperspeed, while the effort to impose real public interest obligations on the broadcasters moves at one quarter impulse. Still, I can't help stirring the pot at the FCC and seeing what bubbles up.
So last week, I filed a lengthy motion (lawyers can never say anything short, right?) at the FCC over the efforts of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) to preserve their monopoly on local traffic and weather. . .
In times like these, I find the prospect of a pliant corporate radio-television-newspaper combine that keeps its mouth shut in return for favors to be especially frightening.
I like Feld's articles because, rather than just railling in general, he discusses particular FCC rules, hearings, regulations, and also bills before congress. He names names and gives concrete suggestions about how to counter ominous developments.
Anyway I hope this is not considered spammish abuse of the diary section. I just think many of y'all might appreciate what he has to say.