Senate Panel Passes Bill To Delay New Ownership Rules

Senate Votes To Delay Ownership Changes

The Senate Commerce Committee unanimously voted TUESDAY to approve a bill that would delay the FCC's ability to approve new ownership rules for six months. The Commission has been heading for a DECEMBER 18th vote on rule changes, but the bill, if approved by the full Senate and House and signed by the President, would put the brakes on Chairman KEVIN MARTIN's schedule.

"The last thing we need in the world is more concentration in the media," Sen. BYRON DORGAN (D-ND) said in sponsoring the bill. "Media ownership rules are important in a democracy. We won't allow the FCC to rush to judgment, and we won't allow the public to be shut out of the process."

Of course, the chances of the bill being passed by the full Senate and the House, then being signed by Pres. BUSH -- who's more likely to veto it -- by DEC. 18th, can best be described by "slim and none."

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