WASHINGTON – Worried about the prospect of further media consolidation in Maine, Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, questioned the members of the Federal Communications Commission on why they chose to move toward a loosened regulatory structure that would allow for the industry’s giants to grow even larger.

At a highly visible Senate Commerce Committee hearing, Snowe joined a bipartisan group of senatorial critics who challenged the thinking of the three members of the FCC who were part of a 3-2 vote Monday to approve the rules that would allow companies to reach up to 45 percent of the national market rather than the previous standard of 35 percent.

The Senate is working on legislation that would roll back the FCC requirement to 35 percent in a bill sponsored by Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, and co-sponsored by Snowe.

Rep. Tom Allen, D-Maine, has sponsored similar legislation in the House. Sen. Susan M. Collins, R-Maine, and Rep. Michael H. Michaud, D-Maine, have both spoken out against the FCC’s plan.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Snowe said the decision “paves the way for further consolidation and concentration of power in the hands of a few.” She chastised FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell for not giving greater consideration to more than 750,000 public comments sent to the FCC as letters, e-mails and faxes.