En Banc Hearing Regarding Local Television Ownership Rules

FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

47 CFR Part 73

[MM Docket Nos. 91-221 and 87-8; DA 99-281]

En Banc Hearing Regarding Local Television Ownership Rules

AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Commission will hold an en banc hearing concerning the

issues raised in connection with the Commission's pending review of its

local television ownership rules. The purpose of the hearing is to

educate and inform the Commissioners, FCC staff, and the public about

differing perspectives on whether the Commission's local television

ownership rules should be modified to respond to ongoing changes in the

mass media industry.

DATES: Friday, February 12, 1999, from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

ADDRESSES: The Commission's new headquarters building at 445 12th

Street, SW, Washington, DC 20554, Room TW-C305.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Robert Somers, Federal Communications Commission, Washington, DC 20554.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Federal Communications Commission will

hold an en banc hearing on Friday, February 12, 1999, from 9:30 a.m. to

noon in the Commission meeting room, Room TW-C305 of the Commission's

new headquarters building located at 445 12th Street, SW, Washington,

D.C. The hearing will concern issues raised in connection with the

Commission's pending review of its local television ownership rules.

The purpose of this en banc hearing is to educate and inform the

Commissioners, FCC staff, and the public about differing perspectives

on whether the Commission's local television ownership rules should be

modified to respond to ongoing changes in the mass media industry. The

Commission's pending proceeding on this issue is part of a larger

examination of these and other broadcast media ownership rules first

initiated by the Commission in 1991, and more recently guided by the

statutory directives of the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

In its pending Local Ownership proceeding, the Commission has

proposed modifying the ``TV duopoly'' rule, which prohibits the common

ownership of more than one TV station in a local market, and the radio-

television cross-ownership rule, which prohibits the common ownership

of radio and TV stations in a local market. It has also sought comment

on the appropriate grandfathering policy for TV local marketing

agreements (``LMAs'') that may become attributable under the

Commission's proposed revisions of the rules which govern attribution

of broadcast ownership interests.

The hearing will consist of presentations to the Commission by two

panels. The first panel will be composed of legal scholars, economists,

political scientists, and Wall Street observers. This panel will

provide the Commission with a general perspective on the relevant

trends in the mass media industry, the purposes for a free over-the-air

broadcasting system, the future consequences of economic changes, and

the role of the FCC in regulating broadcast ownership. The second panel

will focus more specifically on the proposed rule modifications with

perspectives from parties who have been actively involved in these

issues. Although there are other ownership issues currently pending

before the Commission, this hearing will focus solely on the issues

raised by the ``TV duopoly'' and radio-television cross-ownership rules

and the related TV LMA grandfathering policy.

The en banc is open to the public, and seating will be available on

a first come, first served basis. A transcript of the en banc will be

available 10 days after the event on the FCC's Internet site. The URL

address for the FCC's Internet Home Page is http://www.fcc.gov>.

The en banc will also be carried live on the Internet. Internet

users may listen to the real-time audio feed of the en banc by

accessing the FCC Internet Audio Broadcast Home Page. Step-by-step

instructions on how to listen to the audio broadcast, as well as

information regarding the equipment and software needed, are available

on the FCC Audio Broadcast Home Page. The URL address for this home

page is http://www.fcc.gov/realaudio/.>

Federal Communications Commission.

Charles W. Logan,

Chief, Policy and Rules Division, Mass Media Bureau.

[FR Doc. 99-3333 Filed 2-9-99; 8:45 am]

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