[Congressional Bills 107th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2536 Introduced in House (IH)]







107th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2536

To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reduce restrictions on media 
                   ownership, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 17, 2001

 Mr. Stearns introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                    Committee on Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reduce restrictions on media 
                   ownership, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Broadcast Ownership for the 21st 
Century Act''.

SEC. 2. CROSS-OWNERSHIP LIMITATIONS.

    (a) Rule Changes Required.--The Federal Communications Commission 
shall modify section 73.3555 of its regulations (47 C.F.R. 73.3555) by 
eliminating any provisions limiting the granting or renewal of an AM or 
FM radio or television broadcast station license to any party 
(including parties under common control) on the basis of the ownership, 
operation, or control by such party of a daily newspaper.
    (b) Cable Cross-Ownership Limitations.--Section 613(c) of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 533(c)) is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(c)''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
    ``(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), the Commission may not 
prohibit or limit a person or entity from holding any form of ownership 
or other interest in a broadcasting station and a cable system serving 
the same community.''.
    (c) Deadline for Actions.--The Federal Communications Commission 
shall complete all actions necessary to complete the modifications 
required by this section within 90 days after the date of enactment of 
this Act.

SEC. 3. TELEVISION MULTIPLE OWNERSHIP.

    Section 310 of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 310) is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) National Audience Reach Calculation.--In calculating the 
national audience reach limitations for television stations under the 
Commission's regulations, UHF television stations shall be attributed 
with no more than 50 percent of the television households in their 
market.''.

SEC. 4. LIMITATION ON FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AUTHORITY.

    (a) Amendment.--Section 202(c)(1)(B) of the Telecommunications Act 
of 1996 is amended by striking ``35 percent'' and inserting ``45 
percent''.
    (b) Deadline for Implementation.--The Federal Communications 
Commission shall amend its regulations to implement the amendment made 
by subsection (a) within 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act. In amending such regulations, the Commission shall not revise 
section 73.3555(e)(2)(i) of its regulations (47 C.F.R. 
73.3555(e)(2)(i)).

 SEC. 5. MULTIPLE TELEVISION STATION OWNERSHIP.

    (a) Local Television Multiple Ownership Rule Changes Required.--The 
Federal Communications Commission shall revise its rule for local 
television multiple ownership set forth in section 73.3555(b) of its 
regulations (47 C.F.R. 73.3555(b)) to permit a person or entity to 
directly or indirectly own, operate, or control two television stations 
in the same designated market area if--
            (1) the grade B contours of such stations do not overlap; 
        or
            (2) the grade B contours of such stations do overlap and at 
        least 6 independent broadcast or cable television voices would 
        remain in the designated market area after the transfer of 
        ownership, operation, or control of the license of the stations 
        in question.
    (b) Independent Voices.--In making the revision required by 
subsection (a), the Commission shall determine the number of 
independent broadcast or cable television voices that would remain as 
follows:
            (1) Broadcast tv stations.--Each independently owned and 
        operating full power broadcast television station within the 
        designated market area shall be counted as one independent 
        voice.
            (2) One cable system counted.--Regardless of how many 
        individual cable systems operate in the designated market area, 
        if cable television is generally available to households in the 
        area, cable television shall be treated as one independent 
        voice.
                                 <all>