Senate Votes to Rescind FCC Regulations

The Senate voted on Tuesday to rescind new FCC regulations allowing large media companies to grow even bigger, raising the threat of a presidential veto.

The Senate approved, 55-40, a resolution that would roll back the Federal Communications Commission rules allowing television networks to own more local stations and permitting conglomerates to own a newspaper, television stations and radio outlets in a single market.

The measure faces more opposition in the House of Representatives, and President Bush has threatened to veto the resolution should it pass the House.

The Republican-led FCC adopted the new rules in June, which would allow television networks to own local stations that collectively reach 45 percent of the national audience, up from 35 percent.

The new rules permit one company to own a newspaper, a television station and several radio stations in a single market, lifting a decades-old ban on cross-ownership. A company would also be permitted to own two local television stations in more local markets.

FCC Chairman Michael Powell said that easing the limits was a necessary to preserve broadcast television, as well as to respond to the proliferation of cable, satellite television and Internet offerings.

Television networks agreed, arguing that they needed to acquire more local stations to better compete against cable and satellite television services.

A wide range of critics, from the National Rifle Association to Consumers Union, as well as both Democrats and Republicans, maintain that the rules would narrow the diversity of viewpoints and reduce local news coverage.