Unions representing half a million media workers joined with Reps. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Reps. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt), Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), and Diane Watson (D-Calif.), along with FCC Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps, to call for public hearings as the commission rethinks its media ownership rules.

The collegial chit-chat preceding the first meeting of a full commission in more than a year belied the aspersion-casting to come. After a quick huddle with fellow Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein, Deborah Taylor Tate and Robert McDowell; Michael Copps let fly at the way yet another media ownership proceeding was about

“We worry that the percentage of independently produced and owned content on media outlets will continue to fall, thereby limiting the number of distinct media voices,” the senators wrote.

The Justice Department has decided not to challenge a court ruling that blocked the relaxation of ownership rules

At a public meeting last week on media ownership, commissioner Michael Copps laid out his case for reinstituting "meaningful public interest responsibilities" on broadcasters.

Rankled by reports that FCC Chairman Kevin Martin could bring new media ownership rules to a commission vote as early as December, the Senate Commerce Committee took a look at the state of media localism and diversity at a hearing Thursday.

Nearly 90% of the commenting public opposes relaxing broadcast ownership regulations.   This is what the DigitalTV-Television Broadcast Magic 8-Ball predicts the public will get: A repeal of the current national 35% TV audience cap, with a few caveats about providing news and public affairs programming; duopoly limits rendered superfluous by the inclusion of other forms of media in the “voice” test; and an easement allowing a single entity to own a daily newspaper in markets where it also has TV and/or radio holdings.

Video competition and national broadband on agenda