Media Ownership Rules

 

                   Timeline: 1996 — 2006

Feb. 1996 — Congress Passes the 1996 Telecom Act.  Section  202 (h) requires FCC to review its ownership rules every 2 yrs. and repeal or modify any regulation determined to be no longer in the public interest.

Jan. 1998 — Democrat controlled FCC undertakes its 1st Biennial Review of ownership rules.

April 2002 —  U.S. Court of  Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. v. FCC questions FCC limits on  local TV ownership.

June 2000 — 1st and 2nd Biennial Review   Report published.  FCC upholds nearly all   ownership rules as still in the public interest.

Sept. 2002 — FCC begins 2002 biennial review and incorporates remands from D.C. Circuit into review.

  1996

2003

Sept.  2003 — MAP successfully      obtains a stay of the FCC’s decision in the U.S. Court of Appeals for Third Circuit.  Court also denies broadcaster motion to transfer case to D.C. Circuit.

July 2003 — FCC releases 2002 Biennial Review report, substantially deregulating the broadcast ownership rules.

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Aug. 2003 — Chmn. Powell

announces Localism proceeding.

Feb.  2002 —  U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit  in Fox Television Stations, Inc. v. FCC , partially reverses Commission’s 2000 biennial report and eliminates rule preventing cable operators from owning broadcast stations in current  service areas.  Decision presses FCC for further deregulation of media ownership.