FCC OKs Media Cross-Ownership
Overturning a 32-year ban, the Federal Communications Commission voted today to allow broadcasters in the nation’s 20 largest media markets to own newspapers there, too.
The issue is highly contentious, reports the Associated Press, and the FCC’s move today could potentially be reversed in the U.S. senate, according to Reuters. Restrictions on ownership are intended to prevent a single point of view from dominating the media in a single market.
“Opponents of the ban say in the past decade there has been an explosion of news outlets, thanks to cable television and the Internet, and that such restrictions are no longer necessary,” recounts AP. “Ban supporters say there may be additional outlets, but there has been no corresponding increase in news-gatherers and producers, especially at the local level.”
