Reps Walden and Yarmuth Introduce Bill Eliminating Disco Era Media Ownership Rules

House Communications Subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-OR) and committee member Rep John Yarmuth (D-KY) introduced a bipartisan bill to repeal the newspaper broadcast cross-ownership ban. Enacted in 1975, the cross-ownership rule prohibits ownership of both a broadcast station (AM, FM, TV) and a daily newspaper in the same market. Despite the fact that the Federal Communications Commission, in 2003, found the ban to no longer be in the public interest, the rule remains largely unchanged and hinders potential investment in struggling newspapers across the country. The bipartisan bill would eliminate the 1970s era cross-ownership ban to reflect today’s competitive media marketplace, providing greater flexibility to newspapers and broadcasters.

“Broadcasters and newspapers face intense competition from cable and the Internet. Eliminating this relic of the disco era will provide much needed flexibility to the many newspapers and broadcasters throughout the country that provide important local news coverage and encourage greater investment in original journalism. We want what’s best for consumers and this bill provides a thoughtful solution that puts the public’s interest first.” Chairman Walden said.