The Federal Communications Commission voted to allow broadcasters in the nation's 20 largest media markets to also own a newspaper today.  The decision overturns a 32-year-old ban put in place to prevent any one company from owning too much media and thereby limiting free speech. 

Despite intense pressure from Capitol Hill to delay the vote, the FCC made the decision to open the market to media monopolies.  The White House supports the decision and has promised to veto any congressional action that seeks to overturn the decision. 

Is the future of free speech in jeopardy?  Some say it already is and point to the sensationalist content that now dominates mainstream media as evidence corporate takeovers and concern with profit-making are driving news.  Need evidence?  Think Anna Nicole Smith, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and other celebrities that dominate even the most "trusted" names in news, a la CNN. 

One thing is for certain, as the handful of broadcast media companies begin their inevitable acquisition roll up of newspapers, their influence on politics will become even greater and those in politics will have to pay the piper for their positions.   Viva la internet...