Join us at 10 a.m. for the FCC's showdown with the Senate Commerce Committee. The hearing comes one day after Democratic Commissioners Jonathan Adelstein and Michael Copps pilloried Chairman Kevin Martin's plan to allow one company to control a newspaper and television or radio station in the same city as: "a mish-mash of half-baked ideas."

This is the Chairman's second romp to the Hill in defense of his ill-fated plan. Though at the last hearing in the House, Martin's plan received tepid support, today he appears before Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), who led the Senate Commerce Committee to pass a resolution ordering the FCC to delay its planned December 18 vote by at least 120 days.

Today's showdown features one panel with all five members of the FCC. Can Kevin Martin and Spectacles of Hope prevail over Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and the Scowl of Doom? Start hitting refresh at 10 a.m. to find out.
(AP Photo/John Bazemore)

9:55: Today's video link comes in two flavors: Real Media Player and Windows Media Player/Quicktime.
10:12: We begin our liveblogging now.

10:14: One caveat: C-SPAN3 is broadcasting a panel of women who are confident that the nation is ready for a female President. Whoa, simply whoa, man. The Committee's webcast promises: "coverage begins momentarily." Until then, we'll cover this panel. Liveblogging warmup.

10:16: This woman got her education in a one-room school, and supports bipartisanship.

10:16: There is another question. The question that came before this was: "I want Hillary to be the next President, but I hear that it won't ever happen because people don't like Bill. Will Hillary ever be a President?" C-SPAN also promises that the hearing will begin as soon as this is over.

10:17: "Raising children is such a critical job, that it be done well."

10:18: We're having fun imagining the Senators and the FCC Commissioners sitting in the Russell Building watching this fascinating discussion on feminism.

10:19: We think this woman wants money for raising her son.

10:20: Bumper sticker: Motherhood = unpaid labor.

10:20: "Unpaid labor is a huge issues in the United States that needs to be brought into feminism."

10:20: This would almost be better than our media ownership showdown, except it isn't.

10:21: Can we get a scab in the back to hold up a sign: "We Want Kevvy!"

10:23: Wait, no, this can't be right. The tag in the corner reads: 11/16/04. Is our hearing being preempted by a two-year old chat? Really, C-SPAN?

10:24: Meghann immensely dislikes the phrase "Do The Math." It makes her cringe.

10:25: Voter registration campaigns aimed at women have nail files that read: File For Change. How clever.

10:25: You do not have time for one last question. What? Two last questions? No, that's not a last question.

10:26: Random Man Who May Have Fought With His Wife Last Night: "Try to get more men out of the closet to say "we support women's issues."

10:26: Look, we're tired of beating around the bush: we want to hear the old white men who control the media!

10:28: We imagine Ted Stevens (R-AK) bursting through the fireplace, his soot-covered face boiling with anger because the womens are clogging his tubes.

10:30: C-SPAN3 will never rise to C-SPAN2 with this attitude. Poor choice, C-SPAN3.

10:30: The chat is over. Everybody applauds.

10:32: Finally, we see the hearing room. It is practically empty.

10:33: "Many members have been having their picture taken this morning."

10:34: All the Committee members are sitting behind the podium, primping for their portraits.

10:35: We apologize to C-SPAN3 for the mean things we said five minutes ago. This isn't your fault. Congress has failed us once again.

10:40: Random angry citizen (we're onto Washington Journal while we wait for the hearing:) "Incompetent bureaucrats are giving away $10 million 1,000 times per year."

10:46: No, Senator Innoye. You can't start 46 minutes late and say "since time is of the essence."

10:46: We're skipping opening statements today.

10:46: Byron Dorgan: "I have been so looking forward to this hearing."

10:47: Dorgan really can't wait. He's jumping right into his opening statement.

10:48: Dorgan has been summoned by Harry Reid (D-NV) for a meeting on the approps bills, which actually are more important than media ownership.

10:48: He's leaving, grudgingly—but demands that the FCC postpone its planned December 18 vote.

10:49: Ha, good one Stevens. He offered to take Dorgan's seat at the budget negotiating table. Dorgan countered that he could instead offer harsh questions to the FCC.

10:51: Chairman Martin is giving his opening statement.

10:51: We don't have a transcript, but this sounds exactly like the statement Martin gave to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Nothing new for the Senate? That is kind of badass. Not something we'd expect from Chairman Spectacles.

10:53: We can hear Senator Stevens murmuring in the background.

10:54: Since he isn't saying anything new, we will provide our coverage of his previous opening statement:10:29: Martin thinks his proposal does boost competition, diversity, and localism--doesn't quite see what Congress is upset about.

10:30: His study was lengthy and spirited.

10:31: He loves hearing from the public. His six hearings cost almost $200,000. That's expensive, which means they were good.

10:32: The FCC has received over 600,000 comments so far, which is well short of the 2 million they received last time consolidation was proposed.

10:32: Though not required, he published the text of his proposed rule. How magnanimous.

10:33: "According to every measure, newspapers are struggling." (With 18% profit margins.)

10:34: As a result, newspapers are firing reporters. They need to merge with the television networks, because we all know how well television reporters cover the news.

10:37: He wants more women and minorities to own media outlets. He's going to help them, regardless of what happens with consolidation.

10:38: "It's not an exaggeration to say that the media consolidation proposal is the most divisive to come before the Commission."Let's see if he says anything new.

10:56: He is talking about the Universal Service Fund, the pot of gold that everybody pays into to support rural access to telecom services.

10:57: He's going to build a strong backbone to link 6,000 hospitals and other health care providers.

10:59: @UCLAJason: The FCC is an independent agency. President nominates, Senate confirms. The majority party on the Commission has all the power. The one-chamber legislative veto was shot down by the Supreme Court in INS v Chadha.

@Weazel: Wasn't that part of a West Wing episode?

11:00: Wait a minute... all of these opening statements are the same. Michael Copps again warned of a "consumer backlash the likes of which we have not seen for a long, long time."

11:01: Are FCC Communication Directors part of the writers guild? We haven't seen their YouTube videos.

11:05: Instead of stop, drop, and roll, Commissioner Copps thinks the FCC should "stop, drop, and listen." That's new.

11:08: Adelstein has a few new points. Media consolidation degrades women and causes violence.

11:09: More hating on the DTV transition and our headless response. Which brings us to our latest installment of Statements Commissioners Might Be Puzzled By If Re-Told To Their Five-Year-Old Selves. For Adelstein, today's winner is: "We should have already finished our DTV education plan." As a five-year-old, he placed greater importance on cookies, milk.

11:12: Commissione