House Sidesteps Tauzin In Media Cap Vote

Cable World, July 21, 2003

Byline: ALICIA MUNDY

Stymied by Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-La.) of the House Commerce Committee, members of Congress who want to roll back the FCC's new loosened media rules pushed through a rider in the House Appropriations Committee that reversed the network ownership cap. Last week's vote to take down the cap from 45% to the old 35% was a surprising 40-25, a major blow to the networks.

Legg Mason analyist David Kaut said this could mean that the bill could pass in the House, and that support was growing like "wildfire." A similar provision is moving through the Senate.

Meanwhile, local TV broadcasters visiting Capitol Hill were rebuffed by GOP and Democratic senators who have been scared off of deregulation by complaints about mega-corporation Clear Channel radio. So far, the newspaper-TV cross-ownership regulations allowing such pairings hasn't gained ground in the House.