Powell is right on with that approach. Honestly, though, I think any other approach than the one currently in practice would offer some improvement. At least, any approach that would remove inhibitions of competition.

Unfortunately, market efficiencies are of only academic interest to we who are considered to be mere product.

So you're not concerned about concentration of the media? Have you read William Safire's thoughts on this, and if so, what do you think about them?

I think that Safire is a fool on many issues, particularly this one.

In today's Washington Post, there is an article about how small groups have achieved parity with large organizations in the age of the Internet. They cite the Dean campaign.

I think that the big story about media today is the *decline* of the importance of centralized media power. Anyone who thinks that centralized media is becoming more important needs to supply at least a shred of evidence.

I disagree with Mr. Klings assessment of Mr. Powell. Particularly because Powells actions have not necessarily demonstrated an attempt to turn control over to the "free market". The word that describes most of the changes Mr. Powell has championed would be trans-regulation rather than de-regulation. There will always be an argument among economist whether the market is perfectly self-regulating or requires tweaking. However, where the FCC is concerned it is a given that some form of regulation exists, even if it favors a minority at the expense of a majority. Mr. Powell has not demonstrated any intent to get out of the regulatory business whatsoever. If he had then the big industry players would have called for his head on a platter. Ask the local mom & pop internet service providers who pioneered commerical internet access what grade they would give Mr. Powell.