FCC Eyes Media Ownership Rules
As Americans face more choices for news and entertainment, federal regulators are considering changing rules that limit the number of local TV stations a single broadcasting company can control.
The Federal Communications Commission was expected to hold a hearing Friday to gather more information.
A 1996 telecommunications law eased some restrictions but required the commission to consider changing, or even eliminating, other limits in light of competition.
The FCC's hearing focuses on just three of those rules and possible changes to them. Those rules:
- Forbid a single company from owning more than one local TV station in a given market.
- Prohibit a company from owning a TV station and a radio station in the same market unless the FCC grants a waiver.
- Permit "local marketing agreements," or LMAs, which allow one TV station to operate another TV station in the same market but not actually own it.
The FCC is considering giving stations more leeway to own a second TV station in a given market. It also is considering letting a company own both a TV station and up to four radio stations in a market. Companies with waivers to that rule could be forced to sell some properties.
The FCC is considering tightening the LMA rules and counting these stations toward federal ownership limits, a move that could force some broadcasters to abandon their agreements.
Some broadcasters and top telecommunications lawmakers, including the Senate Commerce Committee chairman, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont., attacked the FCC's proposals, particularly the proposed changes to LMAs forcing FCC Chairman Bill Kennard in December to put off a commission vote. They believe the proposals do not give broadcasters enough regulatory relief.
But the Media Access Project, a public-interest law firm, thinks the FCC's proposals, including the one pertaining to LMAs, give broadcasters too much freedom.
Kennard "is not married to anything at this point," spokeswoman Liz Rose said.
The National Association of Broadcasters said LMAs help financially strapped stations stay on the air, providing the public with news and information. They want the FCC to protect existing LMA agreements by grandfathering them if the agency tightens its agreement rules. Now, 78 TV stations operate under such agreements.
Andy Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project, contends that the agreements give companies a way to skirt the rule barring a single company from controlling more than one TV station in a market.
Economists, broadcasters, academics, public-interest advocates and singer Stevie Wonder were invited to testify.
Written By Jeannine Aversa, Associated Press Writer