FCC Commissioner Michael Copps on the FCC’s Vote to Rewrite the Nation’s Media Ownership Rules

But the reaction against the vote has been swift. Close to 200,000 people have signed an open letter urging Congress to overturn the December 18th vote. Less than 24 hours after the vote, Democratic Congressman Jay Inslee and Republican Congressman Dave Reichert introduced the “Media Ownership Act of 2007” that would overturn the new rules approved by the FCC.

It was Bush-appointed FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, now just 41 years old, who rammed through the rule changes. He has served President Bush well. As deputy general counsel for the Bush-Cheney campaign in 2000, he was active during the Florida recount. Before that he worked for Kenneth Starr at the Office of Independent Counsel during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. Rumor has it that he may run for governor of his native North Carolina. His wife, Cathie Martin, was a spokeswoman for Vice President Dick Cheney in the midst of the scandal around the outing of CIA operative Valerie Plame. She now works on Bush’s communications staff.

Today we play the speech of one of the two dissident FCC commissioners Michael Copps. Copps has been fighting media consolidation since he was appointed to the FCC in 2001. He is a former history professor. He called the vote a Christmas gift to corporations.

Michael Copps, FCC Commissioner

Related Links

• Amy Goodman: The FCC’s Christmas Gift to Big Media
• StopBigMedia.com

Related Democracy Now! Stories

• FCC Commissioners Adelstein and Copps Decry Proposals to Ease Caps on Media Consolidation (11/1/2007)
• FCC Chair Kevin Martin Refuses to Delay Vote on Proposed Rewrite of Media Ownership Rules (12/17/2007)