By Ron Thaniel
September 29, 2003

The United States Senate September 16 voted to repeal the Federal Communications Commission's decision to loosen media ownership rules.

By a vote of 55-40, senators passed a resolution of disapproval, introduced by North Dakota Senator Byron L. Dorgan, that would repeal the FCC's decision in June to permit media conglomerates to own more television stations and newspapers — sometimes in the same city.

On June 2, the five FCC commissioners voted 3 to 2 to pass new media ownership rules that would allow one corporation to own the top newspaper and television station in the same city in most U.S. markets, a situation known as "cross'ownership." The new rules would permit broadcast networks to buy more television stations, enabling them to reach 45 percent of the national audience, up from the current national cap of 35 percent.

The majority that went against the FCC would not be sufficient to override a veto threatened by President Bush.

The vote sends the measure to the House. To get on the House calendar, the resolution must pass through the Rules Committee, which is unlikely. Leaders in the House support the FCC decision and are unlikely to allow a vote. A House vote would be forced if proponents can gather the signatures of 218 members, a majority, on a discharge petition.

The resolution, however, is only one way to overturn the rules. Another opportunity to reverse the FCC media ownership rule is in the appropriations process.

The FCC's changes were due to take effect September 4 but were put on hold by a federal appeals court the day before. That day, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit in Philadelphia put the new rules on hold as it considered an appeal.