THIS SEARCH THIS DOCUMENT GO TO
Next Hit Forward New Bills Search
Prev Hit Back HomePage
Hit List Best Sections Help
Contents Display
Bill 1 of 50
To require the Federal Communications Commission to amend its daily newspaper
cross-ownership rules, and for other purposes. (Introduced in Senate)
S 1189 IS
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 1189
To require the Federal Communications Commission to amend its daily
newspaper cross -ownership rules, and for other
purposes.
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
July 17, 2001
Mr. HOLLINGS (for himself, Mr. INOUYE, and Mr. DORGAN) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
A BILL
To require the Federal Communications Commission to amend its daily
newspaper cross -ownership rules, 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. FCC DAILY NEWSPAPER
CROSS -OWNERSHIP RULE.
(1) IN GENERAL- The Federal Communications Commission shall modify
section 73.3555(d) of its regulations (47 C.F.R. 73.3555(d)) to provide for
the immediate review of a license for any AM, FM, or TV broadcast station
held by any party (including all parties under common control) that acquires
direct or indirect ownership ,
operation, or control of a daily newspaper .
(2) NOTICE TO COMMISSION- The modification under paragraph (1) shall
require that any licensee covered by that paragraph notify the Committee of
the acquisition of the ownership , operation, or control of
a daily newspaper upon the
acquisition of such ownership
, operation, or control.
(b) REMEDIAL ACTION- The Commission shall further modify section
73.3555(d) of its regulations (47 C.F.R. 73.3555(d)) to require modification
or revocation of the license, or divestiture of such ownership , operation, or control of
the daily newspaper , unless the
Commission determines that direct or indirect ownership , operation, or control of
the daily newspaper by that
party will not cause a result described in paragraph (1), (2), or (3) of that
section.
(c) 6-MONTH DEADLINE FOR COMPLIANCE- Under the regulations as modified
under subsection (b), if the Commission does not make a determination
described in subsection (b), the Commission shall require the modification,
revocation, or divestiture to be completed not later than the earlier of--
(1) the date that is 180 days after the date on which the Commission
issues the order requiring the modification, revocation, or divestiture;
or
(2) the date by which the Commission's regulations require the license
to be renewed.
(d) APPLICATION TO EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS-
(1) IN GENERAL- In applying its regulations, as modified pursuant to
this section, to any license for an AM, FM, or TV broadcast station that is
held on the date of the enactment of this Act by a party that also, as of
that date, has direct or indirect ownership , operation, or control of
a daily newspaper , the
Commission--
(A) may grant a permanent or temporary waiver from the modification,
revocation, or divestiture requirements of the modified regulation if the
Commission determines that the waiver is consistent with the principles of
competition, diversity, and localism in the public interest; and
(B) shall not apply the modified regulation so as to require
modification, revocation, or divestiture in circumstances in which section
73.3555(d) of the Commission's regulations (47 C.F.R. 73.3555(d)) does not
apply because of Note 4 to that section.
(2) NOTICE TO COMMISSION- A licensee of a license described by paragraph
(1) shall notify the Commission not later than 30 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act that the license is covered by paragraph (1).
SEC. 2. REVIEW BASED ON TRANSACTIONS.
The Federal Communications Commission shall further modify section 73.3555
of its regulations (47 C.F.R. 73.3555) so that the Commission will determine
compliance with section 73.3555(d) of its regulations, as modified by the
Commission pursuant to section 1 of this Act, whenever a party (including all
parties under common control)--
(1) that holds a license for an AM, FM, or TV broadcast station acquires
direct or indirect ownership ,
operation, or control of a daily newspaper ; or
(2) that directly or indirectly owns, operates, or controls a daily
newspaper acquires a license
for an AM, FM, or TV broadcast station.
SEC. 3. FCC TO JUSTIFY REPEAL OR MODIFICATION OF REGULATIONS UNDER
REGULATORY REFORM.
Section 11 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 161) is
amended--
(1) by redesignating subsection (b) as subsection (c); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (a) the following new subsection
(b):
`(b) RELAXATION OR ELIMINATION OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULES- If, as a result of a
review under subsection (a)(1), the Commission makes a determination under
subsection (a)(2) with respect to its regulations governing multiple ownership (47 C.F.R. 73.3555), then
not less than 18 months before the proposed repeal or modification under
subsection (c) is to take effect, the Commission shall transmit to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Commerce of the House of Representatives--
`(1) a statement of the proposed repeal or modification; and
`(2) an explanation of the basis for its determination, including an
explanation of how the proposed repeal or modification is expected to
promote competition, diversity, and localism in the public interest.'.
SEC. 4. DEADLINE FOR MODIFICATION OF REGULATIONS.
The Federal Communications Commission shall complete the modifications of
its regulations required by sections 1 and 2 of this Act not later than 1 year
after the date of the enactment of this Act.
THIS SEARCH THIS DOCUMENT GO TO
Next Hit Forward New Bills Search
Prev Hit Back HomePage
Hit List Best Sections Help
Contents Display