Communications Cross-Ownership Act of 1980

Summary

Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the Federal Communications Commission, in considering an application for the renewal of a broadcasting station license, from taking into account the following: (1) any ownership interest which is held by the renewal applicant involved in any other broadcasting station or in any nonbroadcasting communications medium; or (2) any participation by such renewal applicant in the day-to-day administration and operation of the broadcasting station involved. Prohibits the Commission from granting any commercial broadcasting station license to any applicant if: (1) such applicant, at the time such application is made, owns, controls, or operates any daily newspaper; and (2) the station signal of the broadcasting station for which such license is sought will encompass the entire community in which such daily newspaper is published. Prohibits the Commission from renewing any commercial broadcasting station license for a term which is due to end after June 1, 1980, if the licensee involved: (1) owns, controls, or operates the only amplitude modulation radio broadcasting station which encompasses the entire community involved with a city-grade signal during daytime hours, or the only television broadcasting station the grade A contour of which encompasses the entire community involved; (2) owns, controls, or operates the only daily newspaper which is published in such community; and (3) owned, controlled, or operated such station and such newspaper as of January 1, 1975. Stipulates that such restrictions shall not apply to a radio broadcasting station licensee if: (1) a television broadcasting station is licensed to serve the community which is served by the radio station involved; (2) such television broadcasting station is not owned, controlled, or operated by such radio broadcasting station licensee; and (3) the licensee involved demonstrates to the Commission that compliance with such requirements by such licensee is not necessary to serve the public interest, convenience, or necessity. Permits any licensee who, on the effective date of this Act, owns, controls, or operates a daily newspaper and is the licensee of a commercial broadcasting station which has a station signal which encompasses the entire community in which such newspaper is published, to apply for renewal of such license and not be required to relinquish ownership or control of such broadcasting station or such newspaper. Prohibits any licensee from transferring, assigning, or otherwise disposing of the commercial broadcasting station license held by such licensee and the ownership of, or any interest in, the daily newspaper to the same person, except in specified conditions.

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Documents

5 official files

• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 4 December 1980

  Open at official source

• Passed House amended

  summary · EN · 1 October 1980

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• Reported to House amended, Part II

  summary · EN · 24 September 1980

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• Reported to House amended, Part I

  summary · EN · 19 September 1980

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 20 December 1979

  Open at official source

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