Media Ownership Act of 2007

A bill to promote transparency in the adoption of new media ownership rules by the Federal Communications Commission, and to establish an independent panel to make recommendations on how to increase the representation of women and minorities in broadcast media ownership.

11/8/2007--Introduced.
Media Ownership Act of 2007 - Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to require the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in changing any of its regulations related to broadcast ownership, to publish notice in the Federal Register for least 90 days, followed by at least 60 days for public comment, followed by at least 30 days to reply to comments. Applies those requirements to any any changes related to broadcast and newspaper ownership made after October 1, 2007. Requires the FCC, before voting on any change in broadcast and newspaper ownership rules, to complete a separate rulemaking to promote the broadcast of local programming and content by broadcasters, including radio and television broadcast stations, and newspapers. Requires the FCC, before issuing a final rule, to:
(1) conduct a study on the overall impact of television station duopolies and newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership on the quantity and quality of local news, public affairs, local news media jobs, and local cultural programming at the market level; and
(2) publish a proposed final rule at least 90 days before a vote, followed by at least 60 days for public comment, followed by at least 30 days to reply to comments. Requires the FCC to establish an independent panel on increasing the representation of women and minorities in broadcast media ownership and to act on the panel's recommendations before voting on any changes to its broadcast and newspaper ownership rules.


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Sponsor

• Sen. Byron Dorgan [D, ND]
• and 24 Co-Sponsors
  • Sen. Joseph Biden [D, DE]
  • Sen. Jeff Bingaman [D, NM]
  • Sen. Barbara Boxer [D, CA]
  • Sen. Maria Cantwell [D, WA]
  • Sen. Robert Casey [D, PA]
  • Sen. Hillary Clinton [D, NY]
  • Sen. Susan Collins [R, ME]
  • Sen. Bob Corker [R, TN]
  • Sen. Larry Craig [R, ID]
  • Sen. Christopher Dodd [D, CT]
  • Sen. Richard Durbin [D, IL]
  • Sen. Russell Feingold [D, WI]
  • Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D, CA]
  • Sen. John Kerry [D, MA]
  • Sen. Trent Lott [R, MS]
  • Sen. Claire McCaskill [D, MO]
  • Sen. Robert Menendez [D, NJ]
  • Sen. Patty Murray [D, WA]
  • Sen. Bill Nelson [D, FL]
  • Sen. Barack Obama [D, IL]
  • Sen. Bernard Sanders [I, VT]
  • Sen. Olympia Snowe [R, ME]
  • Sen. Jon Tester [D, MT]
  • Sen. Ron Wyden [D, OR]
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Committees

• Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation

Amendments

This bill has no amendments.

Amendments to S.2332

Number	Status	Purpose

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by Senate		Voted on by House		Considered By President		Bill Becomes Law
November 08, 2007

Show All Actions (7 actions)Hide Actions

All Bill Actions

• Dec 04, 2007: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
• Dec 04, 2007: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Date of scheduled consideration. SR-253. 2:30 p.m.
• Nov 13, 2007: Star Print ordered on the bill.
• Nov 08, 2007: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
• Nov 08, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14199-14200)
• Introduced on Nov 08, 2007.
• Nov 08, 2007: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S14200)

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Related Bills:

• H.R.4835

Related Issue Areas:

• Women in business
• Women
• Television stations
• Television programs
• 23 more
• Telecommunication industry
• Radio stations
• Radio programs
• Radio journalism
• Newspapers
• Minority business enterprises
• Minorities in mass media
• Minorities
• Law
• Journalism
• Independent regulatory commissions
• Humanities
• Governmental investigations
• Government publicity
• Government information
• Federal Communications Commission
• Executive departments
• Economic concentration
• Culture
• Communications
• Business
• Administrative procedure
• Telecommunication

Data from the Congressional Research Service

In the News

December 19, 2007 Fight just beginning over FCC's media ownership rules

4, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation unanimously passed the bipartisan Media Ownership Act of 2007 (S. 2332)—a bill that would ...

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Source: Workday Minnesota, MN

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December 19, 2007 Free Press Applauds House Media Ownership Act

introduced the “Media Ownership Act of 2007” (HR4835) – the House companion to a Senate bill (S. 2332) sponsored by Sens. Byron Dorgan (DN. ...

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Source: Common Dreams (press release), ME

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December 10, 2007 Newspaper Lobby Wants Senate Bill Blocked

The Senate bill (S.2332) is co-sponsored by Sens. Bryon Dorgan (DN.D.) and Trent Lott (R-Miss.). Dorgan spokesman Barry Piatt, unsure when the bill would ...

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Source: Broadcast Newsroom, CA

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Blog Coverage

June 24, 2008 DOUBLE ENERGY DAILY NEWS FOR

In November of 2007, Senator Dorgan of North Dakota sponsored legislation (S. 2332) entitled the Media Act of 2007 to promote transparency in media ownership. Under the legislation adopted by Congress, an independent panel would be ...

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Source: ronee & THR4U worldwide.

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May 25, 2008 Josh Silver on the Responsible Plan

However, the Responsible Plan does not address this dynamic at all, asserting that the adoption of S. 2332 is but the "first step". Grassroots activists should be aware of this dynamic as we move towards ending the causes of the war in ...

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Source: Mad Progress

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April 26, 2008 Senate Poised To Tighten Broadcast Ownership Rules

We urge the Commerce Committee to also take up S. 2332, Senator Dorgan’s bill to reverse the media ownership rules to ensure the FCC does not go down this road again.” read more... »

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