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Bill 2 of 50
Broadcast Ownership for the 21st Century Act (Introduced in House)
HR 2536 IH
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2536
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reduce restrictions on
media ownership , and for other
purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 17, 2001
Mr. STEARNS introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reduce restrictions on
media ownership , and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Broadcast Ownership for the 21st Century
Act'.
SEC. 2. CROSS -OWNERSHIP LIMITATIONS.
(a) RULE CHANGES REQUIRED- The Federal Communications Commission shall
modify section 73.3555 of its regulations (47 C.F.R. 73.3555) by eliminating
any provisions limiting the granting or renewal of an AM or FM radio or
television broadcast station license to any party (including parties under
common control) on the basis of the ownership , operation, or control by
such party of a daily newspaper
.
(b) CABLE CROSS -OWNERSHIP LIMITATIONS- Section 613(c)
of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 533(c)) is amended--
(1) by inserting `(1)' after `(c)'; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
`(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Commission may not prohibit or
limit a person or entity from holding any form of ownership or other interest in a
broadcasting station and a cable system serving the same community.'.
(c) DEADLINE FOR ACTIONS- The Federal Communications Commission shall
complete all actions necessary to complete the modifications required by this
section within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
SEC. 3. TELEVISION MULTIPLE OWNERSHIP .
Section 310 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 310) is amended
by adding at the end the following new subsection:
`(f) NATIONAL AUDIENCE REACH CALCULATION- In calculating the national
audience reach limitations for television stations under the Commission's
regulations, UHF television stations shall be attributed with no more than 50
percent of the television households in their market.'.
SEC. 4. LIMITATION ON FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AUTHORITY.
(a) AMENDMENT- Section 202(c)(1)(B) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
is amended by striking `35 percent' and inserting `45 percent'.
(b) DEADLINE FOR IMPLEMENTATION- The Federal Communications Commission
shall amend its regulations to implement the amendment made by subsection (a)
within 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. In amending such
regulations, the Commission shall not revise section 73.3555(e)(2)(i) of its
regulations (47 C.F.R. 73.3555(e)(2)(i)).
SEC. 5. MULTIPLE TELEVISION STATION OWNERSHIP .
(a) LOCAL TELEVISION MULTIPLE OWNERSHIP RULE CHANGES REQUIRED- The
Federal Communications Commission shall revise its rule for local television
multiple ownership set forth in
section 73.3555(b) of its regulations (47 C.F.R. 73.3555(b)) to permit a
person or entity to directly or indirectly own, operate, or control two
television stations in the same designated market area if--
(1) the grade B contours of such stations do not overlap; or
(2) the grade B contours of such stations do overlap and at least 6
independent broadcast or cable television voices would remain in the
designated market area after the transfer of ownership , operation, or control of
the license of the stations in question.
(b) INDEPENDENT VOICES- In making the revision required by subsection (a),
the Commission shall determine the number of independent broadcast or cable
television voices that would remain as follows:
(1) BROADCAST TV STATIONS- Each independently owned and operating full
power broadcast television station within the designated market area shall
be counted as one independent voice.
(2) ONE CABLE SYSTEM COUNTED- Regardless of how many individual cable
systems operate in the designated market area, if cable television is
generally available to households in the area, cable television shall be
treated as one independent voice.
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