[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 111 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S8404]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            WAIVING THE RULES REGARDING MEDIA CONCENTRATION

  Mr. GORTON. Mr. President, I rise today to address a provision in the 
reconciliation bill that deals with spectrum. In an ill-advised 
concession, the Senate accepted a partial waiver of the duopoly and 
newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership restrictions that will allow 
broadcasters and newspaper owners in cities with populations over 
400,000 to bid for the returned ``analog'' spectrum in those markets. I 
believe this simply is bad policy. As plainly explained in the report, 
the Senate, like the House--that originally sought an even broader 
waiver--put revenue concerns first. First, and ahead of what I believe 
to be graver concerns for the intellectual wealth and benefits that 
accrue from a diversity of voices and opinions in a marketplace.
  Fortunately, although we have, in my view, compromised unacceptably, 
we have not done so unqualifiedly. The final bill provides for a waiver 
of the duopoly and newspaper-broadcaster cross ownership ban only in 
cases of cities of over 400,000. Moreover, the bill provides only a 
one-time waiver, only in large markets, which are likely to have more 
(and more diverse) media, and only under circumstances (the auction of 
``duplicate'' spectrum) in which the number of broadcast voices could 
double.

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