The U.S. Senate Commerce Committee passed a measure Wednesday to restore some of the media ownership rules relaxed by the FCC June 2.
The panel approved rolling back the TV audience cap to 35% and reimposing the cross-ownership ban to prevent one entity from owning a newspaper and a TV or radio station in the same market.
The measure, introduced by ranking minority committee member Sen. Fritz Hollings of South Carolina and fellow Democrat Ted Stevens of Alaska, eliminates future review of the TV audience cap.
The measure now goes to the full Senate, where it faces an uncertain future. Experts believe a companion House bill has limited chances for success.
FCC Commissioner Michael Copps, who opposed the commission’s new rules, urged fellow commissioners to defer to congressional action and stay its decision until Congress completes deliberations on media ownership.
Ownership Rollback Effort Sees First Victory in Committee
Ownership Rollback Effort Sees First Victory in Committee
