By John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable Online, 10-25-17
FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said he has circulated a media ownership item for a vote at the November meeting that would achieve major broadcast deregulation.
It would eliminate the newspaper-broadcast crossownership rules; the radio-TV crossownership rule, eliminate the eight-voices test for duopolies;
allow for case-by case review of top-four prohibition on owning two stations among the top four, but does not get rid of the prohibition; eliminate the attribution rules for joint sales agreements, concluding they serve the public interest, and “finally, finally,” the chairman said, establish an incubator program for new, diverse entrants.
The chairman outlined the item at a House Communications Subcommittee hearing Wednesday (Oct. 25). » Read More