L. Paxon: “one of the major fallacies of Mr. Markey's arguments is that the broadcast ownership reform provisions will harm local…”

“one of the major fallacies of Mr. Markey's arguments is that the broadcast ownership reform provisions will harm local ownership of broadcast stations. There is an unfounded fear that networks or broadcasting groups will buy up local stations and drop local programming in favor of network programs or a bland, national fare--and that is just plain wrong. First, under today's restrictive broadcast ownership provisions, 75 percent of television stations are owned by broadcast corporations, and of those companies, 90 percent are headquartered in States other than where their individual stations are located. Second, networks cannot currently force an affiliate to air any specific network program. Local stations today enjoy the ``right of refusal'' which means they can air a local program instead of a network program. Nothing in H.R. 1555 will change this right of refusal. Finally, and perhaps most important to broadcasters, is the fact that local programming is profitable. Good business sense dictates that broadcasters address the needs of the local community. There will always be demand for local programming, especially local news, weather forecasts and traffic reports, since this is something that the networks just can't match. In conclusion, we must also remember that H.R. 1555 does nothing to weaken existing antitrust laws regarding undue media concentration. Mr. Chairman, I urge all of my colleagues to oppose the amendment by Mr. Markey.”