Senate Panel OKs Media Bill

Senate Panel OKs Media Bill

By AP.

A Senate panel on 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.).

However, the vote might be too little, too late for opponents of media consolidation. 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.

Dorgan and others have accused Martin of rushing the media ownership rule change. The Senate bill would require 180 days of public review of any proposed new rule before an FCC vote could occur.

The legislation, even if successful, is not expected to affect Tribune Co.’s proposed $8.2 billion going-private deal, which was cleared by the FCC last week. It is unclear whether there would be any potential long-term effect on Tribune, which in Chicago owns the Chicago Tribune, WGN-Ch. 9 and WGN-AM 720.

The bill also would require the agency to complete a separate rulemaking process to promote local programming and content by broadcasters.

It would require the agency to conduct a study on the impact on cities when one company owns more than one television station or owns a broadcast station and a newspaper. The bill also requires the agency to examine the effect on the quantity and quality of local news, public affairs and cultural programming.

In addition, it would require the agency to establish an independent panel to study ways to increase the representation of women and minorities in broadcast media ownership and to act on the panel’s recommendations before voting on any rule changes.