In a guest post, Sen. John Kerry talks about next steps in the fight to stop Big Media and overturn the FCC’s decision to allow the largest media companies to swallow up more local newspapers and TV stations. Join the conversation in the comments section below. Then take action [1].

As the community here knows better than anyone — last December FCC Chairman Kevin Martin rammed through a rules change to allow further consolidation of the media market. This change was opposed by just about everyone outside of the few media companies it would benefit – public criticism was overwhelming and the Senate Commerce Committee went on record opposing it. We held a hearing just days before the scheduled FCC vote, and I warned Martin [2] that moving ahead with the vote would have real consequences.

Kerry Challenges Martin

We weren’t bluffing.

Tomorrow afternoon the Commerce Committee will consider a bill [3] that will be the start of those consequences. The resolution (S.J. Res 28, if you’d like to follow it [4]), introduced by Byron Dorgan, condemns the rule and nullifies its effect. Basically, it tosses the rule out. I’ll be there to deliver another message to Martin: moving ahead with a rule in defiance of congressional intent and against the will of the people is not the way to do business in a democracy.

The Chairman had every opportunity to delay this rule so that the Commission could carefully consider how further consolidation might impact access to local content as well as the rapidly decreasing number of minority owned media outlets. After all, the FCC’s own reports indicated that not enough data exists on these issues to make an informed decision. Instead, we had a rush to judgment on the flimsiest of pretexts, claiming the rule was needed because the newspaper industry is in need of a lift. Well, it may very well need a lift, but the newspaper industry isn’t even regulated by the FCC, so I’m not sure why Chairman Martin considers that a valid reason for Commission action. Especially in the face of so much public opposition and against direct congressional intent.

Tomorrow, we’ll take a step toward making this rule null and void. But that’s not all we’re going to do. I’ll continue to push on all fronts to make sure the FCC is working for the American people – not just looking out for a couple of big media conglomerates. Back in December I sent a letter with Senator Obama stating our intention to deny funds for the implementation of the rule, and that option remains on the table.

I’ll check back in after tomorrow’s meeting to let you know what progress we’ve made.