re: #213 darthstar

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It used to be that a corporation couldn’t own more than 7 AM, 7 FM and 7 TV stations.

We gave up a lot when we gave up that rule.

Here’s a timeline for anyone interested:

In the 1970’s Licensees were limited to a total of 7 television licenses, 7 AM radio licenses, and 7 FM radio licenses nationwide; known as the 7-7-7 rule.

1985 the 7-7-7 rule was upgraded to the 12-12-12 rule.

1992 saw the rules relaxed even further to the 12-18-18 rule.

Telecommunications Act of 1996 changed regulation so that a single company cannot own more than eight radio stations in a given market, however, there is no limit on the number of radio stations one company can own nationwide.

In August 1999 the FCC created the “eight voices” test and the 35% rule. The rule said that Locally-a company may own two TV stations in the same market (a duopoly) as long as eight individual voices still exist. Nationally- No company may own more than 35% of the nation’s TV audience.

Information courtesy of 02e1390.netsolhost.com.

I read that last sentence to mean that it’s possible that control could ultimately be winnowed down to *three* corporations controlling the TV market: 35%, 35% and 30%. That may not happen, but like Senator Sanders says, we’ve gone from 50 to 6 in under 30 years. Is it such a stretch to believe it could go from 6 to 3?

My biggest beef with Clinton wasn’t DOMA (although I wasn’t overjoyed by his embrace of it_ — it was his support of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that really rankled me.