Jim Bunning: “in June, the Federal Communications Commission, FCC, issued an order that modified its media ownership rules in…”

“in June, the Federal Communications Commission, FCC, issued an order that modified its media ownership rules in accordance with the 1996 Telecommunications Act. The modified rules increased from 35 percent to 45 percent of households the cap governing broadcast network ownership. The new rules also make easier newspaper-broadcast cross ownership by largely lifting the ban prohibiting a newspaper from buying a TV or radio station in the same market. S. J. Res. 17 would overturn all aspects of the FCC ruling. I do not believe the FCC ruling is without flaw, but a blanket negation of the rule-making is not an appropriate response. Though I am not in favor of the increased cap governing broadcast network ownership, I do support the modified newspaper-broadcast cross ownership rule. I believe the relaxed cross ownership ruling encourages a concordant relationship between newspapers and television stations that will offer a higher standard of quality in news content and reporting. This, in turn, reaps innumerable benefits for communities across America. As I believe the value of the modified cross ownership ruling usurps the potential dangers of the increased cap governing broadcast network ownership, I cannot support S. J. Res. 17. To unequivocally vacate all aspects of the FCC ruling is to do a disservice to incalculable citizens across this country who will benefit from the modified newspaper-broadcast cross ownership rule.”