Despite the FCC’s efforts in its 2002 and 2006 quadrennial review proceedings to relax (or maybe even eliminate) its newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership (NBCO) prohibition, that prohibition is still alive and kicking after nearly 40 years. In the 2010 quadrennial the NBCO is again in the Commission’s sights. And now the Minority Media and Telecommunications Council (MMTC) has provided arguable impetus for the Commission to try to pull the trigger, again.
MMTC has submitted a specially-commissioned study entitled “The Impact of Cross Media Ownership on Minority/Women Owned Broadcast Stations” (Study). Prepared by well-respected BIA/Kelsey Chief Economist Mark Fratrik, the Study presents evidence that “the impact of cross-media ownership on minority and women broadcast ownership is probably negligible”. In other words, the Commission could probably dump the NBCO without having to worry about adversely affecting minority- or female-owned stations. Since the FCC’s 2002 and 2006 quad efforts were criticized (by, among others, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit) because of the Commission’s supposed lack of attention to minority/female considerations, the Study helps fill in that arguable gap.
Based on questionnaire responses provided by only a relatively limited sample of broadcast stations, the Study is, by its own terms, “not dispositive”. Still, in light of its sponsor and its author, it may be viewed as a significant contribution to the record.
The FCC has invited public input on the Study. Comments are due by July 22, 2013; reply comments by August 6.