MAJOR VICTORY ON FCC RULES
MoveOn.org, June 25th, 2004 

Following an unprecedented public outcry, a federal appeals court rejected the Federal Communications Commission's proposed rules that would have allowed fewer corporations to control more of the media. The decision gives priority to the public interest over corporate bottom-lines.

Media policy is usually considered too obscure for ordinary people to care about. Last year, however, Congressional offices reported receiving comments about media ownership from millions of Americans -- more than any topic except the war in Iraq.

As a result, the Senate twice voted to roll back the FCC rules. There was enough support in the House to do the same, but the Republican leadership prevented a vote, saving President Bush from a politically unpopular veto.

This was possible because of the power of the grassroots, and also because of the smart leadership of Free Press, Common Cause, Consumers Union, and others. Our great thanks go to the Media Access Project, the public interest law firm which skillfully argued this case.

Americans like yourself, who live every day with a deteriorating media, rose to challenge lobbyists from giant media conglomerates. We have a long road ahead of us to ensure our media provide the sort of quality journalism on which democracy depends. Today we can look back and rejoice at how far we have already come.

You can read more about the court's ruling at: http://www.freepress.net/rules/