Armey takes aim at Belo: House Majority Leader vows to continue trying to break up grandfathered Dallas combo. (Washington).(Dick Armey)(Brief Article)

Broadcasting & Cable, October, 2002 by Eggerton, John

Retiring House Majority Leader Dick Armey (B-Texas) is trying to force Belo to divest itself of one of its Dallas media properties, taking a page from an earlier attempt by legislators to break up a media conglomerate they didn't like. Armey's parting shot and his spokesman's suggestion that "several" other members expressed concerns about crossownerships raise questions about the FCC'S ability to remove those restrictions in local markets.

The commission is widely expected to eliminate or relax crossownership restrictions it imposed in 1975--a move Belo is pushing for--but concerned lawmakers could put up resistance. Already, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ernest Hollings (D-S.C.) is an avowed opponent of the idea. The Belo-owned Dallas Morning...

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