Preservation of Localism, Program Diversity, and Competition in Television Broadcast Service Act of 2003

Bill: 108-s-1046
Sponsor: Sen. Stevens, Ted [R-AK]
Introduced: 2003-05-13 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Administrative procedure
Commerce
Competition
Corporate divestiture
Economic concentration
Federal Communications Commission
Government Operations and Politics
Independent regulatory commissions
Law
Licenses
Newspapers
Public meetings
Radio stations
Television broadcasting
Television frequency allocation
Television industry
Television stations

Summary:
action_date: 2003-05-13
text: Preservation of Localism, Program Diversity, and Competition in Television Broadcast Service Act of 2003 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission from permitting any license for a commercial television broadcast station to be granted, transferred, or assigned to any party if such action would result in that party owning, operating, controlling, or having a cognizable interest in stations which have an aggregate national audience reach exceeding 35 percent. Requires any party currently having licenses in excess of such limit to divest as necessary to comply with such limit within one year.
action_date: 2003-09-03
text: 
Preservation of Localism, Program Diversity, and Competition in Television Broadcast Service Act of 2003 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from permitting any license for a commercial television broadcast station to be granted, transferred, or assigned to any party if such action would result in that party owning, operating, controlling, or having a cognizable interest in stations which have an aggregate national audience reach exceeding 35 percent. Requires any party currently having licenses in excess of such limit to divest as necessary to comply with such limit within one year.
 
(Sec. 4) Prohibits any party, after one year after the enactment of this Act, from exceeding the caps on local radio ownership established by the FCC in its media ownership proceeding.
 
(Sec. 5) Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to require the FCC: (1) to biennially review its broadcast media ownership rules (current law) and to change, repeal, or retain such rules, as appropriate; and (2) before changing, repealing, or retaining a rule, to hold at least five public hearings in different areas of the United States.
 
(Sec. 7) Declares null and void the cross-media limits rule adopted by the FCC on June 2, 2003. Reinstates the previous rules pertaining to broadcast-newspaper and radio-television cross-ownership, to be applied retroactively to such date.
 
Allows the public utility commission of a State of a small (rural) market with a Designated Market Area of 150 or higher to recommend, on a case-by-case basis, that the FCC grant a waiver of its cross-ownership rules if the public utility commission finds that the proposed transaction for which the waiver is required will enhance local news and information, promote the financial stability of a newspaper, radio station, or television station, or otherwise promote the public interest. Authorizes the FCC to approve such recommendation within 60 days unless there is compelling evidence that the related transaction would be contrary to the public interest.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2003-09-16
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11505)
action_date: 2003-09-03
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 270.
action_date: 2003-09-03
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with an amendment. With written report No. 108-141. Additional views filed.
action_date: 2003-09-03
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with an amendment. With written report No. 108-141. Additional views filed.
action_date: 2003-06-19
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2003-05-13
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S6082-6083)
action_date: 2003-05-13
text: Introduced in Senate