WASHINGTON — A Senate panel Tuesday approved a bill that would put the brakes on a plan to let broadcasters own a newspaper in the same media market.
The Senate Commerce Committee, on a voice vote, approved the Media Ownership Act of 2007, which would delay passage by the Federal Communications Commission of any new media ownership rules for 180 days, or possibly longer, depending on whether studies on the impact of media consolidation on local communities and minority ownership are completed.
“The last thing we need in this country is more concentration in the media,” said Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., who is a sponsor of the bill along with Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss.
The vote may be too little, too late. The FCC is expected to vote Dec. 18 on a proposal by FCC Chairman Kevin Martin that would eliminate the ban on one company owning a radio or television station and a newspaper in the same community in the nation’s 20 largest markets.
The Senate bill would require the FCC to explore ways to promote the broadcast of local programming and content by radio and television broadcasters and newspaper owners. The study would require the agency to consider the impact on cities when one company owns more than one television station or owns a broadcast station and a newspaper.
