• TV Week, Wednesday, August 9, 2006 12 PM

Federal Communications Commissioner Robert McDowell has signaled that his agency could bring about changes to media-ownership rules bit by bit to help avoid snags that enabled an appeals court to strike down a similar proposal in 2003, reports TV Week. "It will be broken up into smaller pieces than last time," says McDowell, a former telephone- company lobbyist who has been on the commission juts a few months. When former FCC Commissioner Michael Powell attempted to loosen ownership rules, he was rebuffed by a federal appeals court that ruled the agency had failed to adequately justify its proposed changes and hold public hearings. Current FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is in favor of allowing media companies to own more outlets in a single market--yet some public interest groups believe this change will lead to further consolidation and less diverse offerings, notes the trade magazine. Media ownership, McDowell says, is "one big kidney stone to pass."

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