Nine Democratic senators urged FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski not to...

Nine Democratic senators urged FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski not to proceed with any rule changes that would relax the commission’s media cross-ownership rules, in a letter made public last week. The letter followed news that the commission is planning a vote to allow waivers of a ban on cross-ownership among daily newspapers and TV stations in top-20 markets (CD Nov 23 p5). The senators said the commission should avoid such a decision, which they said has the potential to harm minority communities who would suffer from further media consolidation. TV and radio ownership by women and minorities “remains at abysmally low levels,” the senators said, noting the recent broadcast ownership figures released Nov. 14 by the Media Bureau (CD Nov 21 p15). The letter was signed by Democratic Sens. Patrick Leahy, Vt., Tom Harkin, Iowa, Barbara Boxer, Calif., Patty Murray, Wash., Ron Wyden, Ore., Jon Tester, Mont., Al Franken, Minn., Jeff Merkley, Ore., and Independent Bernie Sanders, Vt. The FCC had no comment.