NAB sounds retreat: industry group will now work with networks to defeat rollback of the 35% ownership cap. (Media Deregulation).(the National Association of Broadcasters)

Broadcasting & Cable, July, 2003 by McConnell, Bill

In a move that shocked Capitol Hill, the National Association of Broadcasters last week agreed to work with the major networks to kill legislation that would reinstate the 35% cap on one company's national TV-household reach.

The move especially stunned the lawmakers that, only weeks before, the NAB had persuaded to sponsor the 35% rollback, which was intended to hem in the growth of network-owned stations, NAB President Eddie Fritts, however, insisted that the trade group had no choice but to back off from what had been its legislative priority because any bill is increasingly likely to contain additional restrictions that most of his members despise.

"The snowball was rolling downhill and becoming more difficult to stop," Fritts told reporters...

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