S 1046 · 108th Congress 2003–2005, ended

Preservation of Localism, Program Diversity, and Competition in Television Broadcast Service Act of 2003

Introduced May 13, 2003 Originated Senate Sponsor Ted Stevens R-AK

Fact sheet

Latest action · Sep 16, 2003 Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11505)

Progress

Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedMay 13, 2003
  2. Passed SenateNot reached
  3. Passed HouseNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

Preservation of Localism, Program Diversity, and Competition in Television Broadcast Service Act of 2003 - (Sec. 3) Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from permitting any license for a commercial television broadcast station to be granted, transferred, or assigned to any party if such action would result in that party owning, operating, controlling, or having a cognizable interest in stations which have an aggregate national audience reach exceeding 35 percent. Requires any party currently having licenses in excess of such limit to divest as necessary to comply with such limit within one year.

(Sec. 4) Prohibits any party, after one year after the enactment of this Act, from exceeding the caps on local radio ownership established by the FCC in its media ownership proceeding.

(Sec. 5) Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to require the FCC: (1) to biennially review its broadcast media ownership rules (current law) and to change, repeal, or retain such rules, as appropriate; and (2) before changing, repealing, or retaining a rule, to hold at least five public hearings in different areas of the United States.

(Sec. 7) Declares null and void the cross-media limits rule adopted by the FCC on June 2, 2003. Reinstates the previous rules pertaining to broadcast-newspaper and radio-television cross-ownership, to be applied retroactively to such date.

Allows the public utility commission of a State of a small (rural) market with a Designated Market Area of 150 or higher to recommend, on a case-by-case basis, that the FCC grant a waiver of its cross-ownership rules if the public utility commission finds that the proposed transaction for which the waiver is required will enhance local news and information, promote the financial stability of a newspaper, radio station, or television station, or otherwise promote the public interest. Authorizes the FCC to approve such recommendation within 60 days unless there is compelling evidence that the related transaction would be contrary to the public interest.

Cosponsors 49

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from May 13, 2003 to Sep 5, 2003, with 5 there on the day it was introduced.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
D-NDByron L. DorganOriginalMay 13, 2003
R-MTConrad R. BurnsOriginalMay 13, 2003
D-SCErnest F. HollingsOriginalMay 13, 2003
D-ORRon WydenOriginalMay 13, 2003
R-MSTrent LottOriginalMay 13, 2003
D-WIRussell D. FeingoldMay 14, 2003
R-COWayne AllardMay 14, 2003
R-KYJim BunningMay 15, 2003
D-ARBlanche L. LincolnMay 19, 2003
D-HIDaniel K. AkakaMay 19, 2003
D-SDTim JohnsonMay 21, 2003
R-NCElizabeth DoleMay 22, 2003
D-CABarbara BoxerMay 23, 2003
D-HIDaniel K. InouyeMay 23, 2003
D-ARMark L. PryorJun 2, 2003
D-CTChristopher J. DoddJun 3, 2003
D-NCJohn EdwardsJun 3, 2003
R-MEOlympia J. SnoweJun 3, 2003
D-WAPatty MurrayJun 3, 2003
D-FLBill NelsonJun 5, 2003
I-VTJames M. JeffordsJun 5, 2003
D-MAJohn F. KerryJun 5, 2003
D-DEThomas R. CarperJun 5, 2003
D-WAMaria CantwellJun 9, 2003
D-MICarl LevinJun 10, 2003
D-NVHarry ReidJun 10, 2003
D-MTMax BaucusJun 10, 2003
D-ILRichard J. DurbinJun 10, 2003
R-MESusan M. CollinsJun 10, 2003
D-WVRobert C. ByrdJun 12, 2003
D-MAEdward M. KennedyJun 18, 2003
D-NMJeff BingamanJun 20, 2003
D-CTJoseph I. LiebermanJun 20, 2003
D-VTPatrick J. LeahyJun 23, 2003
D-NJFrank R. LautenbergJun 24, 2003
D-MDPaul S. SarbanesJun 25, 2003
R-AKLisa MurkowskiJun 26, 2003
D-SDThomas A. DaschleJun 27, 2003
D-NYHillary Rodham ClintonJul 9, 2003
D-RIJack ReedJul 10, 2003
D-FLBob GrahamJul 14, 2003
R-MNNorm ColemanJul 14, 2003
R-GASaxby ChamblissJul 15, 2003
D-DEJoseph R. Biden Jr.Jul 16, 2003
R-TNLamar AlexanderJul 24, 2003
R-WYMichael B. EnziJul 28, 2003
R-RILincoln ChafeeSep 2, 2003
D-NJJon S. CorzineSep 3, 2003
D-MDBarbara A. MikulskiSep 5, 2003

Actions 6

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. Sep 16, 2003Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S11505)
  2. Sep 3, 2003Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator McCain with an amendment. With written report No. 108-141. Additional views filed.
  3. Sep 3, 2003Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 270.
  4. Jun 19, 2003Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
  5. May 13, 2003Introduced in Senate
Show all 6 actions

Related bills 1

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

BillTitleRelationshipLatest action
HR 2052Preservation of Localism, Program Diversity, and Competition in Television Broadcast Service Act of 2003Identical billMay 20, 2003

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications.

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