Jessica Holzer at Forbes writes that media conglomerates that want to get even more enormous may soon get their wish via a new friend on the Federal Communications Commission.

"On Friday, the U.S. Senate confirmed Robert McDowell to fill the last vacant slot on the five-member commission, giving Martin a 3-2 Republican majority and effectively ending an impasse between Martin and the two Democrats on the commission over media ownership.

"Martin wants to lift the ban barring cross-ownership of TV stations and newspapers, and ease limits on how many stations a media giant can own in any one market. ..."

The confirmation of McDowell puts media ownership back on the front burner. It also raises the chances that AT&T's merger with BellSouth, and the Time Warner-Comcast plan to divvy up Adelphia Communications' assets get swift FCC approval without onerous strings attached.