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SW: Add section on controversy over new FCC regulation proposal.
In May 2007, the [[Center for Public Integrity]] (CPI) reported that Martin's former boss, [[Charles Helein]] of [[The Helein Law Group]], met with Martin to lobby against the proposed XM-Sirius satellite radio merger. Helein was representing [[U.S. Electronics]], "a New York-based satellite radio manufacturer that has filed suit against Sirius," reported CPI. The meeting was described in FCC documents as Helein's explanation of U.S. Electronic's "opposition to and concerns about the proposed XM-Sirius merger and its likely adverse impact on consumers of satellite radio services." [http://www.publicintegrity.org/telecom/telecomwatch.aspx?eid=2883]
== Controversy ==
In October 2007, Chairman Martin proposed an advanced timetable for amending FCC regulations on media consolidation. Like his predecessor, Micheal Powell, Martin's plan is controversial because it "relaxes the decades-old media ownership rules, including repealing a rule that forbids a company to own both a newspaper and a television or radio station in the same city."[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/business/media/18broadcast.html?pagewanted=print]
The plan has also raised eyebrows because of the speed with which Martin wants to enact his proposals and the lack of opportunities for accepting public and Congressional input on the matter.
==Background==
*Brooks Boliek, "[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i880911115a741b410103a2efa7da0b9f Martin seeking to unclog FCC]," ''The Hollywood Reporter'', March 16, 2007.
*Brendan McGarry, "[http://www.publicintegrity.org/telecom/telecomwatch.aspx?eid=2883 McDowell's Former Boss Lobbies Against XM-Sirius Merger]," "Well Connected: Telecom Watch," a blog by the [[Center for Public Integrity]], May 8, 2007.
*Stephen Labaton, "[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/business/media/18broadcast.html?pagewanted=print Plan would ease limits on Media Owners]," ''New York Times'', October 18,2007.
[[category:US government]] [[category:Telecommunications]]
