Ajit Pai: Media Ownership Rules Must Adjust to the Digital Era

[Commentary] For over four decades, the Federal Communications Commission has restricted the ability of broadcast media outlets to also own newspapers, and vice versa, in the same market, under what is known as the newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership rule. This rule was established in 1975 with the stated purpose of preserving and promoting a diversity of viewpoints. Arguably, it made sense at the time. But with the internet now dominating the news landscape, the rule is no longer needed, and may actually be undermining the diversity of viewpoints it was intended to foster. The FCC is scheduled to vote at its meeting Nov 16 to repeal the newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership rule. This common-sense move is not only long overdue.