A Moment for Media Reform

In a victory for media reform, the administration has given up on Michael Powell's media monopoly proposals. The Justice Department will not ask the Supreme Court to reconsider a decision by the federal appeals court in Philadelphia which rebuked Michael Powell's proposed deregulation of media. Before Powell one company could own 35% of the national market. That was increased to 39% by Congress in response to Powell's proposals. He wanted to increase it to 45%.

Powell also wanted to let big media own both television and print, but a broad coalition formed against this proposal. The lefties have already seen the loss of independent media. The right-wing felt consolidation would lead to more indecent programming. Republican TV = indecent programming: that was close enough to join ranks.

The networks and media companies argue that the growth of the internet gives enough independent coverage to offset the monopoly they want in print and broadcast media. Were that only so.