Update 12/18/2007: The FCC commissioners, in an expected party-line vote, voted to overturn the longstanding ban on companies owning newspapers and television stations in the same market. This move will almost certainly result in fewer companies owning more media outlets and, ultimately, less local news coverage and diversity of programming and viewpoints. Numerous senators ( including presidential candidate Barack Obama) have decried the decision and there is considerable hope that the action will be overruled by legal challenges and/or the next (and, hopefully, more Democratic) Congress.

From Daily Kos: Where is the Outrage?: Media Consolidation

Bill Moyers aired a program Friday on the latest power grab by our corporate media. Once again a government agency, in this case the FCC, is trying to ram through new guidelines and regulations (less regulation) giving the public little time to know what's coming or to respond.

Here is something you can do right now ...while at your keyboard. Go to the FCC and leave a comment. ...Last time they tried this, public outrage stopped them. This time they are trying to sneak it through with no time for outrage to build. ... this is getting ZERO coverage in the media. It's totally up to us."

From Common Cause:

Kevin Martin - the chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) - has indicated that he wants to vote to loosen media ownership limits as soon as December 18. But he's not saying exactly what the new rules would be. He wants his agency to make this crucial decision behind closed doors, without public input.

It's eerily similar to what happened in 2003, when Michael Powell's FCC voted for rules to allow massive media consolidation without public input. Under the rules approved by the FCC four years ago, one company would have been able to own up to three television stations, the local newspaper, the cable system and up to eight radio stations in one media market.

TAKE ACTION:
Contact the FCC: The deadline for public comment is Dec. 11
http://www.commoncause.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=2118613

Contact Congress: http://www.commoncause.org/siteapps/advocacy/ActionItem.aspx?c=dkLNK1MQIwG&b=3486873

More on "Media Monopoly": http://www.dailykos.com/tag/Media%20Consolidation