Well, it's almost
that time again. Back in 2002, the FCC reviewed its rules on ownership and decided that
neither the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule nor the radio/television cross-ownership rule remained necessary in the public interest. Accordingly, it replaced those rules with new cross-ownership regulations called the Cross Media Limits ("CML"). The Commission also revised its market definition and the way it counts stations for purposes of the local radio ownership rule, revised the local television multiple ownership rule, modified the national television ownership cap, and retained the dual network rule.
Subsequently, an apellate court stayed many of the rules and required the FCC to seek public input.
You can link to the full backgrounder
here
One of the interesting issues is Cross-media ownership
1. Revisions Adopted in the 2002 Biennial Review Order
23. In the 2002 Biennial Review Order, the Commission concluded that neither the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule nor the radio/television cross-ownership rule was necessary in the public interest as the result of competition.65 The Commission replaced these rules with a single set of cross-media limits, as discussed below.
24. The newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule prohibits common ownership of a fullservice broadcast station and a daily newspaper if the broadcast station's service contour completely encompasses the newspaper's city of publication.66 In the 2002 Biennial Review Order, the Commission concluded that this rule, which does not account for either market size or the availability of other media outlets that may serve a market, was not necessary to promote competition, diversity, or localism.67 The Commission held that, because newspapers and broadcast stations do not compete in the same economic market, elimination of the ban could not harm competition.68 The Commission found that efficiencies resulting from common ownership of a newspaper and a television station can actually promote localism, because newspaper-owned television stations tend to produce local news and public affairs programming in greater quantity and of a higher quality than non-newspaper-owned stations.69 Furthermore, the Commission determined that the blanket ban on cross-ownership was not needed to promote viewpoint diversity given that (1) a vast array of media outlets is available in many markets today, (2) the Commission's revised local cross-media ownership rules will protect diversity sufficiently, and (3) common ownership efficiencies can facilitate the broadcasting of higher quality programming.70
Public hearings will be held on this matter, but the locations and times have not been determined yet.