[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
[S. 2332 Reported in Senate (RS)]
Calendar No. 966
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2332
[Report No. 110-461]
To promote transparency in the adoption of new media ownership rules by
the Federal Communications Commission, and to establish an independent
panel to make recommendations on how to increase the representation of
women and minorities in broadcast media ownership.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
November 8, 2007
Mr. Dorgan (for himself, Mr. Lott, Mr. Obama, Ms. Snowe, Mr. Kerry, Mr.
Nelson of Florida, Ms. Cantwell, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. Biden, Mrs.
Clinton, Mr. Durbin, Mr. Tester, Mr. Dodd, Mr. Sanders, Mr. Feingold,
Mrs. Boxer, Mr. Craig, Ms. Collins, Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. Casey, Mrs.
Murray, Mr. Menendez, Mr. Bingaman, Mr. Corker, and Mr. Wyden)
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
September 15, 2008
Reported by Mr. Inouye, with amendments
[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To promote transparency in the adoption of new media ownership rules by
the Federal Communications Commission, and to establish an independent
panel to make recommendations on how to increase the representation of
women and minorities in broadcast media ownership.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Media Ownership Act of 2007''.
SEC. 2. MEDIA OWNERSHIP REFORMS.
Section 202 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-
104; 110 Stat. 110) is amended by--
(1) redesignating subsection (i) as subsection (l); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (h) the following:
``(i) Notice and Public Comment Requirement.--
``(1) In general.--In modifying, revising, or amending any
of its regulations related to broadcast ownership, including
any ownership rule or limitation set forth under sections
73.3555, 73.658(g), or 76.501 of its regulations (47 C.F.R.
73.3555, 73.658(g), 76.501), the Commission shall--
``(A) not later than 90 days prior to any vote by
the Commission on the adoption of such modification,
revision, or amendment publish such prospective
modification, revision, or amendment in the Federal
Register;
``(B) after such publication provide the public at
least 60 days on which to comment on the prospective
modification, revision, or amendment; and
``(C) upon the expiration of the 60-day comment
period described under paragraph (2), have not less
than 30 days in which to reply to any such comments.
``(2) Effective date.--
``(A) In general.--The notice and public comment
requirements under paragraph (1) shall apply to any
attempt by the Commission to modify, revise, or amend
its regulations related to broadcast and newspaper
ownership made after October 1, 2007.
``(B) Failure to comply.--If the Commission fails
to comply with the notice and public requirements under
paragraph (1) with respect to any modification,
revision, or amendment to which such requirements
apply, then such modification, revision, or amendment
shall be vitiated and shall be of no force and effect.
``(j) Promotion of Local Content in Media.--Before voting on
<DELETED>any change in the broadcast and newspaper ownership rules,
</DELETED>any change in the broadcast and newspaper ownership rules in
a proceeding made necessary by the decision of the U.S. Court of
Appeals in Prometheus v. Federal Communications Commission, United
States of America, (No. 03-3388) 2003 U.S. App. LEXIS 18390), the
Commission shall initiate, conduct, and complete a separate rulemaking
proceeding to promote the broadcast of local programming and content by
broadcasters, including radio and television broadcast stations, and
newspapers. Before <DELETED>issuing a final rule, </DELETED>publishing
a modification, revision, or amendment of its broadcast ownership rules
under subsection (i), the Commission shall--
``(1) <DELETED>conduct </DELETED>complete a study to
determine the overall impact of television station duopolies
and newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership on the quantity and
quality of local news, public affairs, local news media jobs,
and local cultural programming at the market level;
``(2) publish a proposed final rule in the Federal Register
not later than 90 days prior to any vote by the Commission on
the adoption of the rule;
``(3) after such publication provide the public at least 60
days on which to comment on the prospective rule; and
``(4) upon the expiration of the 60-day comment period
described in paragraph (3), have not less than 30 days in which
to reply to any such comments.
``(k) Independent Panel on Women and Minority Ownership of
Broadcast Media.--
``(1) Establishment.--The Commission shall establish and
convene an independent panel on women and minority ownership of
broadcast media to make recommendations to the Commission for
specific Commission rules to increase the representation of
women and minorities in the ownership of broadcast media.
``(2) Census.--The Commission shall--
``(A) conduct a full and accurate census of the
race and gender of individuals holding a controlling
interest in broadcast station licensee;
``(B) provide the results of the census to the
panel for its consideration before it makes any
recommendation to the Commission; and
``(C) study the impact of media market
concentration on the representation of women and
minorities in the ownership of broadcast media
<DELETED>based on </DELETED>that takes into account the
data in the census and report the results of that study
to the panel for its consideration before it makes any
recommendation to the Commission.
``(3) Consideration of panel's recommendations.--The
Commission shall act on the panel's recommendations before
voting on any changes to its broadcast and newspaper ownership
rules.''.
Calendar No. 966
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2332
[Report No. 110-461]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To promote transparency in the adoption of new media ownership rules by
the Federal Communications Commission, and to establish an independent
panel to make recommendations on how to increase the representation of
women and minorities in broadcast media ownership.
_______________________________________________________________________
September 15, 2008
Reported with amendments