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Election Results Keep Media Oversight in Republican Hands

Nov 3, 2004  •  Post A Comment

Democratic presidential contender Sen. John Kerry’s concession of the race for the White House to President Bush on Wednesday was one of a number of reasons for Republicans to celebrate in the wake of the election.

The GOP also solidified its majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate. That’s important to the television industry in part because the key congressional committees that oversee legislation affecting media companies will continue to be chaired by Republicans, who tend to favor industry deregulation.

Regulatory agencies will also remain under GOP leadership. The Federal Communications Commission already has a 3-2 Republican majority. But the seat of one of the agency’s two Democrats-Jonathan Adelstein-has expired. When he is forced to step down at the end of the year, the GOP will have a 3-1 majority at the agency until Mr. Adelstein is replaced with another Democrat-possibly a long wait.