Lobbying Continues for, Against Loosening Media Ownership Rules; Copps Takes Part

Lobbying continues for and against loosening media ownership rules, filings last week in FCC docket 14-50 show, as a draft order might largely stick to some current rules with possible leeway for broadcasters and/or ways for them to get case-by-case OK for owning daily newspapers in the same market as stations (see 1607210055). Common Cause Special Adviser and ex-Democratic Commissioner Michael Copps told Commissioner Mignon Clyburn Chief of Staff David Grossman that he hopes the agency will keep the cross-ownership rule. "This rule is as timely and important now as when it was instituted," wrote Copps. "Diversity of ownership and viewpoint have been harmed by media industry consolidation, and our civic dialogue has suffered from fewer voices in communities." A shuttered paper "can no longer provide a viewpoint or serve as a 'voice,'" wrote NAB General Counsel Rick Kaplan. "The only result that can rationally be expected from the continued prohibition is to hasten the demise of print newspapers." National Hispanic Media Coalition General Counsel Jessica González told Grossman that NHMC opposes NAB's calls to nix the cross-ownership rule, she said. "The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has ordered the FCC to first examine the impact of its rules on ownership diversity prior to relaxing any rules." United Church of Christ Policy Adviser Cheryl Leanza said she told an aide to Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel the cross-ownership rule can't be relaxed "without a study to address the likely impact on ownership rates by women and people of color without a significant risk of being reversed on review."