PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 27, 2003
Broadcast Ownership for the 21st Century Act - Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to modify current cross-ownership limitations by eliminating provisions limiting the granting or renewal of an AM or FM radio or television broadcast license to any party on the basis of the ownership, operation, or control of a daily newspaper.Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide that, in calculating the national audience reach limitations, UHF stations shall be attributed with no more than 50 percent of the television households in their market.Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to direct the FCC to modify its rules for multiple ownership of TV broadcast stations to increase to 45 (currently 35) percent the national audience reach limitations for TV stations owned by the same entity or person.Directs the FCC to revise its rules for local television multiple ownership to allow a person to own, operate, or control two TV stations in the same market area if the grade B contours of such station: (1) do not overlap; or (2) do overlap and at least six independent broadcast or cable television voices would remain in the area after transfer of the license of the stations in question.
People & committees
Rep. Stearns, Cliff [R-FL-6] · R–FL
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 18, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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