[IP] FCC CHIEF WARNS OF FUTURE SHOCK

[Dave Farber <dave@farber.net>]

> Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2003 14:56:28 -0700
> From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne@warpspeed.com>
>
>
>
> FCC CHIEF WARNS OF FUTURE SHOCK
>
> "I think free, over-the-air TV is dying," says FCC Chairman Michael Powell.
> "I don't care how much money they made this year, they're dying." Part of
> the reason, he says, is that cable networks have both subscriber and
> advertising revenue, unlike network television. Powell also cites cable's
> freedom from the federal indecency rules that broadcast stations must
> follow. "In 10 years, free TV is going to be gone -- absent any policy
> decisions trying to help," he claims. Opponents remain unconvinced. "Here we
> have the chairman of the FCC trying to somehow protect four of the six
> largest and most profitable media companies that dominate the news,
> information and entertainment market in America today," said Gene Kimmelman,
> of the Consumers Union. "His entire philosophy reeks of corporate welfare
> for the wealthiest, most profitable companies at the expense of
> competition." Powell also fears that the nation's public telephone network
> will start to fail because rather than building facilities, companies such
> as MCI and AT&T are piggybacking on the equipment of regional phone
> companies "like sucker fish on whales." However, he was unsuccessful in his
> bid to revise FCC policy regarding the telephone industry.
>
> SOURCE: Chicago Tribune; AUTHOR: Frank James
> <http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0309070507sep07,1,7218069>

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