Powell: Ownership Rules ‘Not Like Wine’

Can FCC commissioners vote on media rule changes if they only have a couple of weeks to look at them?
Chairman Michael Powell hopes to circulate a draft of the media ownership rules among fellow commissioners by May 12. Fellow Commissioner Michael Copps said earlier that he had no idea how the rules would look before the June 2 public meeting and again urged a delay in the vote.
Powell told reporters in Washington on Thursday that the biennial review is late. Soon it will be time to do the next one, and the commission has an extensive record to help staffers craft the rules, he said.
“It’s not like wine. It doesn’t get better with age,” Powell said.
Once media ownership rules are completed, Powell expects the agency to turn its attention to must-carry, broadcast flags and other pressing broadcast issues.