Hard FCC data chewed up and regurgitated for your convenience

Franchise follies

Despite the overwhelming opposition of states, counties, and cities, the Federal Communications Commission will issue new rules that weaken the authority of local governments over new entrants into video service.

The present system "constitutes an unreasonable barrier to entry that impedes the achievement of the interrelated federal goals of enhanced cable competition and accelerated broadband deployment," the FCC announced yesterday after voting for the changes 3 to 2.

The FCC masticated for your convenience:

Nicole Richie watch

The Indigest has been keeping a friendly eye out for Nicole Richie ever since she got Fox TV in hot water with the Federal Communications Commission for her comments during the 2003 Billboard Music awards.

"Have you ever tried to get cow shit out of a Prada purse?" Richie asked Paris Hilton during the televised event. "It’s not so fucking simple."

Not that we ever thought it was, but the remark certainly has kept Fox TV lawyers busy. No doubt additional retainers have been summoned since the California Highway Patrol arrested Richie on Monday.

Warnings from Senators

Federal Communications Commission Chair Kevin Martin received a friendly but firm tap on the shoulder on Monday from nine United States Senators regarding the agency's localism and media ownership proceedings. In a letter authored by Senator Byron Dorgan, Democrat of North Dakota, the nine warned the FCC not to change the Commission's media ownership rules until it had completed its localism and media ownership proceedings.

In particular, the letter urged Martin not to combine the comments and filings of the media and localism proceedings in a bid to speed up the rulemaking process.

LLFCC's regular attempt to quickly masticate some of the Federal Communication Commission's recent doings on your behalf . . .

Ok. Let me get this straight . . .

Reuters news service reports that FCC Chair Kevin Martin wants to break the agency's 2/2 deadlock over AT&T's proposed merger with BellSouth by getting the Commission's Office of General Counsel (OGC) that Martin's fellow Republican Robert M. McDowell can vote on the acquisition.