Thursday, September 4

News of Note


FCC

Court of Appeals/3rd Cir. blocked the change made this summer to the FCC rules. The change would have made consolodation for media corporations an easier affair--opposition to the rulke change fears loss of local programming.
From the WaPo:
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in Philadelphia made it clear that its decision was not based on the merits of the new rules passed by the Federal Communications Commission. But the emergency stay could add to the momentum against the changes. A House committee has already voted to overturn a key part of the rules, and similar action is expected in the Senate today.

(emphasis mine)




Appointments


Estrada withdraws. From the NY Times:
Miguel Estrada, President Bush's embattled nominee for a federal appeals court judgeship, has withdrawn his name from consideration, ending a bitter battle with Senate Democrats who blocked his nomination, administration officials said Thursday.

Estrada wrote a letter to Bush explaining his reasons, and an announcement could be made as early as Thursday, the officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Noted without comment.