Media, Culture & Society

This article describes the controversy surrounding the FCC’s policy change made by the regarding cable company rules.  The FCC voted in a 3-2 decision that local governments should be required to make the process of entry and approval into the cable industry easier for new competitors.  The new rules are meant to spur more competition in the market in hopes of eliminating high cable fees and the poor quality of service provided by the operating companies.  Those in opposition to the decision argue that the policy change will result in a “federalization” of the franchising processes as well as a loss of local oversight which in turn would lead to a decrease in spending on public and government access channels and “cherry picking” by companies that serve strictly based on appealing demographics.  Those in favor of the decision, however, state that the change will relieve the new competitors from the high demands of the local government that essentially block companies from entering the market and providing service.  The policy was approved by the FCC on December 20^th and, as of today, various local governments and media organizations across the nation are filing suit challenging the federal decision claiming that the rule “provides regulatory advantages for a few of the largest telecommunications companies in the country, and is simply contrary to law in many respects.”

I thought this article was really interesting because it relates to so many of the topics mentioned in McChesney as well as those that have been discussed in class.  The issue of policy change, for example, is prevalent in the article.  The basic idea that the federal government makes policy changes in favor of large corporations and players with “deep pockets” is certainly apparent in this case.  Also, I was definitely able to sense a political battle between the two sides of the argument.  In support of McChesney’s claim, the powerful, conservatives seem to have been the key players in such a decision while the other side of the political spectrum is left fighting the battle of a complex law suit.