Backers of media ownership deregulation endorsed FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai’s support...

Backers of media ownership deregulation endorsed FCC Commissioner Ajit Pai’s support of ending a cross-ownership ban on a company holding a radio or TV station and daily newspaper in the same market, and for letting on a case-by-case basis foreigners hold greater than 25 percent stakes in U.S. broadcasters (CD Sept 20 p6). Also the same day Pai spoke to the NAB Radio show about deregulation, executives from the Newspaper Association of America met with FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski about cross-ownership deregulation. There’s a “need for greater flexibility for investments in newspaper companies by companies that also own television licensees,” the executives also told Media Bureau Chief Bill Lake, Office of Strategic Planning Acting Chief Elizabeth Andrion and aides to Genachowski on Wednesday, a filing recounted. There’s also a “need for ownership relief in small as well as large markets,” Thursday’s filing in docket 09-182 said (http://xrl.us/bnqnce). The Coalition for Broadcast Investment that sought an end to the ban on foreign stakes above 25 percent is “gratified” Pai “embraced our view that broadcasters should have access to capital on the same terms as their cable, satellite and online counterparts,” said industry lawyer Mace Rosenstein of a Covington & Burling, representing the group. “We look forward to working with the commission as it considers our request asking the commission to exercise its existing statutory discretion to authorize broadcast foreign investment that is consistent with the public interest and our national security.” Bonneville International and Scranton Times LP, two owners of dailies and stations in the same market that have sought an end to cross-ownership restrictions, said they hope the full commission “will engage in a productive dialogue about this rule very soon."