The FCC initiated the third biennial regulatory review of broadcast ownership rules. Affected radio rules are: local radio ownership limits and the radio/TV cross-ownership restriction. Attendees at the NAB Radio Show said it was too soon to tell if the local ownership limits, allowing one company to own up to 8 stations in a market, might change.
In the 1996 Telecommunications Act, Congress mandated that the FCC review its media ownership rules to determine “whether any of such rules are necessary in the public interest as a result of competition.” The FCC said the objective of this proceeding is to develop ownership rules and policies that are reflective of the current media marketplace, are based on empirical evidence, and are analytically consistent.
In a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the commission asks for public comment on
the following questions: (1) Does the marketplace provide a sufficient level of competition to protect and advance these policy goals? (2) If not, do the current ownership rules achieve these goals? (3) Are revisions to the rules required to protect and advance diversity, competition and localism in the media market?
FCC Reviews Broadcast Ownership
FCC Reviews Broadcast Ownership
