In recent weeks, the Federal Communications Commission has been battling public opinion and criticism as members approved new media ownership laws allowing expanded consolidation.

In a press release announcing the ownership rule changes, the FCC claims the newest limits are “carefully balanced to protect diversity, localism and competition in the American media system.”

But how much diversity, localism and competition can be maintained with various media — including television and radio stations, newspaper and magazine publishers, Internet providers and cable systems — consolidated under a few major owners?

Industry representatives, including entrepreneurs Ted Turner and Barry Diller, have expressed concerns that the approved changes will only make it harder for new or independent voices to be heard in television programming. The Network Affiliated Stations Alliance, a group of 600 television station owners, say allowing networks to own more stations will diminish local programming.

“As big media companies get bigger, they’re likely to broadcast even more homogenized programming that increasingly appeals to the lowest common denominator,” Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein said in his dissenting statements.

As media conglomeration swells, it will become increasingly easy for a company to look to publishers and programming studios within their ownership to produce their material. This could result in a 21st Century Citizen Kane situation of ownership power and partial monopolies.

Chairman of the commission Michael Powell said that keeping the rules as they are was not an option. However, the assumption under the new laws is that if media companies are allowed to merge, they will channel the resulting efficiencies into better programming for the public, Adelstein said. However, he believes shareholders will require them to maximize profits rather than serve public interest.

A concentration on maximizing profits under the relaxed rules will not only limit localization and diversity, but it will also be harmful on the economy.

Combining the back-office functions and staffs of two media outlets, as well as the advertising and marketing deals, will make the company more profitable. Combining staffs could also result in fewer employment opportunities for recent graduates.

The FCC received a record three-quarters of a million comments from the public in opposition to relaxing the ownership rules and only a handful in support, Adelstein said.

The American people have taken their stance — media concentration has gone too far. Ownership laws should be amended — to an extent that serves the best interests of the public.

Editorial Board: Nicole Paseka, Amy Schierbrock, Alicia Ebaugh, Ayrel Clark, Lucas Grundmeier