Dorgan Predicts Merger ‘Orgy,’ Says Decision Not Final

Some members of Congress are mulling their options for blocking the new media ownership rules from going into effect.
Sen. Fritz Hollings, D-S.C., ranking minority member of the Senate Commerce Committee, was one of several lawmakers who had asked FCC Chairman Michael Powell to delay the vote. “It was ignored,” he said.
Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said, “There’s going to be an orgy of mergers.” The FCC’s decision, he said, is not final.
Senate Republicans are divided over the FCC’s decision to raise the TV national audience cap from 35% to 45% of U.S. TV households. Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, has introduced a bill to bring the cap back down to 35%.
Hollings said there were several legislative avenues lawmakers might take to block the rules.