[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 93 (Tuesday, July 14, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S8138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BURNS (for himself and Mr. McCain):
  S. 2306. A bill to require the Federal Communications Commission to 
modify its duopoly rule for multiple ownership of television stations; 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


             federal communications commission legislation

 Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, today I introduce legislation that 
would eliminate the outdated broadcast ownership restrictions in place 
at the Federal Communications Commission. I am pleased to note that I 
am introducing this legislation with the co-sponsorship of the Chairman 
of the Commerce Committee. I welcome Senator McCain's support on this 
issue and look forward to working with him to make sure that these 
impractical restrictions are eliminated.
  Currently, the FCC disallows ownership of stations in separate 
markets if the broadcast signals overlap. For example, a broadcaster 
may not now own a station in each of the Washington, DC, and Baltimore 
markets. I believe that ownership of stations with overlapping signals 
should be allowed if the stations are licensed to communities in 
different markets. Practical ownership policies will encourage the 
construction of new television stations and broadcast networks that 
will promote increased consumer choice.
  In the Senate Communications Subcommittee, I have recently held 
numerous FCC oversight hearings on how best to create a regulatory 
framework for the age of competition. I believe this bill will help to 
move in the direction of deregulation and I look forward to working 
with my colleagues to ensure its passage.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2306

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

     SECTION 1. MULTIPLE OWNERSHIP RULES.

       The Federal Communications Commission shall modify the 
     television contour overlap rule set forth at section 73.3555 
     of title 47, Code of Federal Regulations, to permit any party 
     (including all parties under common control), to own, 
     operate, or control television stations despite overlapping 
     contours if the television stations are licensed to 
     communities in different television markets (as defined in 
     section 76.55(e) of such title).

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