The rule, proposed by Chairman Kevin J. Martin, a Republican, has been criticized by members of his own commission, condemned by a unanimous vote of the Senate Commerce Committee and called harmful to media diversity by a number of groups who say Martin is pushing it through without adequate public comment.
Not surprisingly, Martin is backed by the White House, which has just successfully headed off a House Democratic attempt to deny the FCC money to implement the new rule.
Passing of the media-ownership plan would partially lift a 32-year-old ban that prevents one company from owning a newspaper and tv or radio station in the same city. Under Martin's new plan, a newspaper could own one television or radio station in the nation's 20 largest media markets, assuming certain conditions are met.
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