Sens. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., and Trent Lott, R-Miss., introduced a bill aimed at slowing down the FCC’s decision process on revising its media ownership rules.
Radio World recently reported their intention.
If passed, “The Media Ownership Act of 2007” would require 90 days for the public to comment on any proposed media ownership rules put forward by the FCC. It would also require the commission to complete a separate proceeding to evaluate how localism is affected by media consolidation.
The bill requires establishment of an independent panel on female and minority ownership and for the FCC to provide the panel with accurate data on female and minority ownership. The panel must issue recommendations and the FCC must act on them prior to voting on any proposed ownership rules, according to the measure.
Co-sponsoring the measure are: Sens. Barack Obama, D-Ill.; Olympia Snowe, R-Maine; John Kerry, D-Mass.; Bill Nelson, D-Fla.; Maria Cantwell, D-Wash.; and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
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