The Spoiler: FCC Official Says Murdoch/WSJ Deal Isn’t A ‘Slam Dunk’

The FCC’s Michael Copps came out today with a statement that probably sent shivers (however brief) down Rupert Murdoch’s triumphant spine. According to Copps, the $5.6 billion News Corp./Dow Jones deal isn’t guaranteed to pass regulatory muster. No one is expecting the FCC to “really” be the roadblock that stops Murdoch’s complete media world domination, but reading Copps’ statement is not only entertaining, but leads one to momentarily seriously consider the notion that Murdoch might not get his Dow Jones/WSJ fix. Copps said:

“It's interesting to hear the ‘experts’ claim the transaction faces no regulatory hurdles. Not so fast! This deal means more media consolidation and fewer independent voices, and it specifically impacts the local market in New York City. What's good for shareholders of huge media conglomerates isn't always what's good for the public interest or our civic dialogue. We should immediately conduct a careful factual and legal analysis of the transaction to determine how it implicates specific FCC rules and our overarching statutory obligation to protect the public interest. I hope nobody views this as a slam-dunk.”