By: Todd Shields U.S. Rep. Fred Upton Finds Rule Outdated
WASHINGTON - Little was known of U.S. Rep. Fred Upton's priorities when he
was appointed chairman of a key congressional panel in January. Last week, the
Michigan Republican made his preferences clear - and publishers liked what
they heard.
Upton, speaking to broadcasters gathered at a Washington hotel March 12, said,
"I will push to get rid of the long-outdated newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership
restriction."
His office called it Upton's first public statement about the cross-ownership
ban, a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rule that bars common ownership
of daily newspapers and radio or TV stations within a market.
Upton's stance is important because he leads the Telecommunications and the
Internet Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, a starting
point for much FCC-related legislation.
The five-member FCC is being remade with the change in administrations. At least
three members are to be replaced by the year's end, and the powerful
chairmanship has gone from a Democrat to a Republican skeptical of the cross-
ownership rules, Michael Powell.
The developments add up to the best chance in years for broadcasters and
publishers to eliminate the 1975 rule.
Opponents say the ownership ban is outmoded due to the proliferation of cable,
satellite, and Web channels. Proponents say the rules are needed to keep
corporations from monopolizing the media. The broadcasters were reminded of this
as U.S. Sen. Ernest Hollings, D-S.C., spoke in support of ownership
restrictions.
Todd Shields (tshields@editorandpublisher.com) is the Washington editor for E&P.
Copyright 2001, Editor & Publisher.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here