FCC DEBATES CROSS-OWNERSHIP RULES

By: Staff reports TV-Newspaper Ban Could Be Lifted



WASHINGTON - (The Hollywood Reporter) The Federal Communications Commission is considering
a proposal that would ease the regulation blocking television companies from owning
newspapers in the nation's biggest markets, media industry and commission sources said.



Under a plan being bandied about by the commission, the ban would be lifted in top markets
where there are enough 'voices' to prevent one company from too easily monopolizing public
opinion, the sources said.



'There's been some talk in that regard,' a newspaper industry executive said. 'But we still
haven't heard it from the chairman, and he controls the agenda.' Calls to FCC Chairman Bill
Kennard's office were not returned, but FCC officials admitted that a 'vigorous debate' is
raging over the 25-year-old newspaper-TV cross-ownership ban and other broadcast limits.



It is unclear which markets would be affected, though one broadcast industry source said the
move could affect as many as the top 50 markets.