Congress to Repeal FCC TV Rule, Senator Vows
Congress will repeal a new Federal Communications Commission rule allowing television networks to expand their audience reach, and President Bush won’t follow through on a threat to veto the legislation, said Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), chairman of the committee writing the bill.
A measure to block the FCC rule probably will be included in a grouping of fiscal 2004 spending bills, Stevens said. Bush has defended the FCC’s rule and his administration has threatened to veto legislation that interferes, but the president wouldn’t stop a bill that funds popular domestic programs, Stevens said.
Under the new rule, TV networks would be able to acquire local stations that reach as much as 45% of the national audience -- up from the previous 35% limit.
From Bloomberg News
Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter
Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond. In your inbox three times per week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
