Number: RL31925
Title: FCC Media Ownership Rules: Current Status and Issues for Congress
Authors: Charles B. Goldfarb, Resources, Science, and Industry Division 
Abstract: On December 18, 2007, the FCC adopted an order that modified only one of its media ownership rules - the newspaperbroadcast cross-ownership rule. Under the new rule, it would be presumptively in the public interest, in the 20 largest markets, for a major daily newspaper to own a single television or radio station, so long as the television station is not among the four highest-rated stations in the market and after the transaction there are at least eight independently owned and operating major media voices. A bipartisan group of 25 senators informed the FCC of its intention to pass a joint resolution of disapproval to revoke the rule. S. 2332 and H.R. 4835 would require the FCC, before adopting any new broadcast ownership rule after October 1, 2007, to give 90 days notice for public comment, and to initiate, conduct, and complete a separate rulemaking to promote the broadcast of local programming and content. They also would require the FCC to establish an independent Panel on Women and Minority Ownership of Broadcast Media and to conduct a full and accurate census of the race and gender of broadcast owners. H.R. 4167 would eliminate the newspaper-broadcast radio cross-ownership prohibition.
Pages: 51
Date: December 26, 2007