The conventional wisdom used to be that Congress is in the pockets of Big Media. So of course Congress would support the FCC's decision to allow Big Media to own even more media. At the very least, a Republican-controlled Congress would follow the Republican White House's lead in getting behind the FCC's new rules. And by the way, isn't deregulation still the gospel in Washington?
Well, the conventional wisdom has been turned on its head. Congress is poised to reject the FCC's new media-ownership rules. In July, the House voted 400 to 21 in favor of a spending bill including a provision scaling it back. And Senate critics say they have enough votes to reverse it in that chamber, come this September.
What's going on?
Partly, it's a peculiar form of Washington politics. A remarkable coalition hascome out against the FCC, including Republicans, Democrats, liberals, and conservatives. Democratic Senator Byron Dorgan has joined forces with Republican Senator Trent Lott. The Christian Coalition and the National Rifle Association came together with the National Organization of Women.
Some right and left-wing groups fear that a few big media companies will gain so much power that their own right-wing and left-wing messages won't get through. They say Big Media's control of more of the content of what's seen andheard by Americans means more blandness, less controversy, fewer opportunities to be heard.
But if you want to understand the real reason for Capitol Hill's overwhelming opposition to the FCC's new rules, you have to know something very basic about American politics, outside the Washington Beltway.
Years ago, the formidable former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill reminded us that all politics is local. Yes, big media, big agribusiness, big drug, big energy, big Wall Street, and even big labor control most of the day-to-day agenda in Washington. But never underestimate the influence of small businessesin the towns and cities where every member of Congress has to be reelected.
Among these small businesses -- most notably -- are local newspapers, local radio stations, and local television affiliates. These local media don't want to be taken over and bossed around by big media conglomerates whose headquarters may be hundreds or thousands of miles away. They want their independence. And they've let their members of Congress know exactly how they feel. Most other local businesses agree. When they choose to advertise, they'd rather deal with their local media, not some giant corporation.
Senators and Representatives facing reelection need to have the local media on their side. And they listen carefully to the local chamber of commerce. No amount of lobbying or bellyaching from the National Association of Broadcasters, or the White House, is going to change this fundamental politicalreality. So come this fall, it's my guess that you can kiss the FCC's new mediaownership rules good-bye.
