The Bush Administration warned before the House vote it would veto the $37.9 billion appropriations bill covering the Justice, State and Commerce departments if it carries an amendment rolling back the TV audience cap back to 35%. The FCC voted to raise the cap to 45% on June 2.
The House Appropriations Committee last week amended the spending bill to reverse what the FCC did in this respect and now the provision has passed the full House.
The Office of Management and Budget said in a statement: “The Administration believes that the new FCC media ownership rules more accurately reflect the changing media landscape and the current state of network station ownership, while still guarding against undue concentration in the marketplace.
“If this provision or a provision like it with respect to any one of the other FCC Rules is contained in the final legislation presented to the president, his senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill,” OMB said.
White House Threatens Veto of Ownership Cap
White House Threatens Veto of Ownership Cap
