NAB: FCC Too Quiet on Eight-Voices Test

Federal Communications Commission local ownership rules prohibits duopolies where TV station co-ownership would leave fewer than eight independently owned stations, which means most markets, but broadcasters say that prohibition is unjustified and unsupported by economic analysis and have commissioned a study buttressing their case.

The FCC does not plan on changing that rule, according to its quadrennial media ownership review proposal that has already been approved by a Democratic majority, though FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has said the item remains under discussion, and can still be tweaked. Facing yet another opportunity lost for the FCC to loosen ownership regulations, the National Association of Broadcasters has submitted a study providing what it says is a basic economic analysis on the so-called eight voices test, an analysis NAB says the FCC has repeatedly failed to do itself.