McDowell's Entrance Tips FCC To Republican Majority

[Robbien]

Robert McDowell was sworn in on June 1 as a member of the Federal Communications Commission, giving Republican Chairman Kevin Martin his first partisan majority since taking office 14 months ago.

McDowell, a telephone association executive until joining the commission, could cast major votes on media ownership and cable carriage rules at his initial FCC monthly meeting, on June 15.

Until June 1, Martin has contended with a commission split 2-to-2 between Democrats and Republicans, and for a few months was even the sole Republican on the agency.

Now, Martin is asking commissioners to reverse last year’s FCC decision limiting broadcasters’ mandatory cable carriage rights to a single digital channel. The chairman also wants to launch a review asking whether to liberalize media ownership rules.

http://billboardradiomonitor.com/radiomonitor/news/business/leg_reg/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002612369

[Demeter]

1. Since When Do The Foxes Get Appointed to Guard the Henhouse?

Have you no sense of decency, sir?

[depakid]

2. And the Dems just let this guy pass right on through

quickly- through a summary proceeding without casting even a single vote against him....