Cross-Ownership Change Could Be Appealed

The partially-relaxed newspaper-broadcast ownership rule was published in the Federal Register Thursday, triggering an appeal period.

The FCC voted in December to allow one entity to own both a daily newspaper and either a TV or radio station in a top-20 TV Designated Market Area, subject to certain criteria. Those in favor, including FCC Chairman Kevin J. Martin, said the existing ban was archaic, the only media ownership rule not changed by the 1996 Telecom Act.

Opponents say there are too many loopholes in the new rule, making it too deregulatory.

Publication of the rule in the Federal Register triggers a 30-day window to file petitions for reconsideration at the FCC and a 60-day window for court challenges.

From Radio World.