Tribune litigation endangers media ownership rule, says regulator

TRIBUNE LITIGATOR ENDANGERS MEDIA OWNERSHIP RULE, SAYS REGULATOR
[SOURCE: Associated Press]
The Federal Communications Commission is expected to approve Tuesday a proposal by Chairman Kevin Martin that will allow broadcasters in the nation's 20 largest media markets to also own a newspaper -- overturning a 32-year-old rule. Chairman Martin calls his plan a "relatively minor loosening" of the rule. He probably also has enough support on the five-member commission to do away with the ban entirely. In the long run, that's what could happen thanks to the exceedingly complex FCC order released a few weeks ago that approved the $8.2 billion buyout of Chicago-based media conglomerate Tribune Co. The FCC in essence invited Tribune to file suit against the agency and challenge the rule. Commissioner Michael Copps has accused Martin of enlisting Tribune as "an accomplice" to do away with the long-standing ban altogether. Regardless, the public dustup over Tribune Co. and the larger issue of media ownership provides a glimpse into how the important and some say occasionally dysfunctional federal agency operates.
http://www.king5.com/business/stories/NW_121707BUB_media_ownership_sw.26...