I 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1035
To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reduce restrictions on media 
ownership, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
FEBRUARY 27, 2003
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 Representa-
tives 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 Com-
munications 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) DEADLINE FOR ACTIONS.—The Federal Commu-
nications 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 mar-
ket.’’. 
SEC. 4. LIMITATION ON FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COM-
MISSION AUTHORITY. 
(a) AMENDMENT.—Section 202(c)(1)(B) of the Tele-
communications 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) with-
in 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act. In 
amending such regulations, the Commission shall not re-
vise 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 Communica-
tions 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 des-
ignated 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 deter-
mine the number of independent broadcast or cable tele-
vision voices that would remain as follows:
(1) BROADCAST TV STATIONS.—Each independ-
ently owned and operating full power broadcast tele-
vision 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 gen-
erally available to households in the area, cable tele-
vision shall be treated as one independent voice.
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