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F.C.C. Vote Affects Democracy

By RODDY DAGGETT

The Oregonian, Portland, Oregon, Mar. 30, 2003

"With limited public discussion, the Federal Communications Commission will vote on Jun. 2 to lift restrictions on media ownership. F.C.C. Chairman Michael Powell, who favors allowing multiple media ownership by one corporation, sees no threat to democracy in such a change. The Telecommunications Act of 1996, which allowed such media-market domination by one corporation, has led to a loss of smaller television and radio broadcasters, which cannot compete with corporations that may control as many as a thousand-plus stations. If 'democracy demands debate,' media ownership monopoly seems unlikely to ensure that both sides of the many issues confronting our society will be heard, seen or read."
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