The decisions are part of a broad trend of media deregulation running through the courts and federal agencies since Congress passed the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

FORBES: Magazine Article

The latest meddling involves media deregulation.

ECONOMIST: Politicians should be kept out of regulation

The agency's deregulation in June 2003 of America's media-ownership rules (which limit the freedom of firms with public-broadcasting licences to buy other media companies) got partially reversed by Congress (in December 2003), and then put on ice altogether by the courts (in June 2004).

ECONOMIST: Face value