[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 27 (Wednesday, February 10, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 6591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3333]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket Nos. 91-221 and 87-8; DA 99-281]


En Banc Hearing Regarding Local Television Ownership Rules

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Commission will hold an en banc hearing concerning the 
issues raised in connection with the Commission's pending review of its 
local television ownership rules. The purpose of the hearing is to 
educate and inform the Commissioners, FCC staff, and the public about 
differing perspectives on whether the Commission's local television 
ownership rules should be modified to respond to ongoing changes in the 
mass media industry.

DATES: Friday, February 12, 1999, from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

ADDRESSES: The Commission's new headquarters building at 445 12th 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554, Room TW-C305.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Robert Somers, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Communications Commission will 
hold an en banc hearing on Friday, February 12, 1999, from 9:30 a.m. to 
noon in the Commission meeting room, Room TW-C305 of the Commission's 
new headquarters building located at 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, 
D.C. The hearing will concern issues raised in connection with the 
Commission's pending review of its local television ownership rules.
    The purpose of this en banc hearing is to educate and inform the 
Commissioners, FCC staff, and the public about differing perspectives 
on whether the Commission's local television ownership rules should be 
modified to respond to ongoing changes in the mass media industry. The 
Commission's pending proceeding on this issue is part of a larger 
examination of these and other broadcast media ownership rules first 
initiated by the Commission in 1991, and more recently guided by the 
statutory directives of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.
    In its pending Local Ownership proceeding, the Commission has 
proposed modifying the ``TV duopoly'' rule, which prohibits the common 
ownership of more than one TV station in a local market, and the radio-
television cross-ownership rule, which prohibits the common ownership 
of radio and TV stations in a local market. It has also sought comment 
on the appropriate grandfathering policy for TV local marketing 
agreements (``LMAs'') that may become attributable under the 
Commission's proposed revisions of the rules which govern attribution 
of broadcast ownership interests.
    The hearing will consist of presentations to the Commission by two 
panels. The first panel will be composed of legal scholars, economists, 
political scientists, and Wall Street observers. This panel will 
provide the Commission with a general perspective on the relevant 
trends in the mass media industry, the purposes for a free over-the-air 
broadcasting system, the future consequences of economic changes, and 
the role of the FCC in regulating broadcast ownership. The second panel 
will focus more specifically on the proposed rule modifications with 
perspectives from parties who have been actively involved in these 
issues. Although there are other ownership issues currently pending 
before the Commission, this hearing will focus solely on the issues 
raised by the ``TV duopoly'' and radio-television cross-ownership rules 
and the related TV LMA grandfathering policy.
    The en banc is open to the public, and seating will be available on 
a first come, first served basis. A transcript of the en banc will be 
available 10 days after the event on the FCC's Internet site. The URL 
address for the FCC's Internet Home Page is <http://www.fcc.gov>.
    The en banc will also be carried live on the Internet. Internet 
users may listen to the real-time audio feed of the en banc by 
accessing the FCC Internet Audio Broadcast Home Page. Step-by-step 
instructions on how to listen to the audio broadcast, as well as 
information regarding the equipment and software needed, are available 
on the FCC Audio Broadcast Home Page. The URL address for this home 
page is <http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/.>

Federal Communications Commission.
Charles W. Logan,
Chief, Policy and Rules Division, Mass Media Bureau.
[FR Doc. 99-3333 Filed 2-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6712-01-P