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Bush Administration Backs Off Media Ownership Rules




WASHINGTON, D.C., January 28: President George W. Bush's administration has abandoned its challenge to a ruling that blocked the relaxation of media ownership rules, delivering another set back to companies that are seeking to expand their TV station holdings and own newspaper and TV assets in the same market.


According to wire reports, the Justice Department will not ask the Supreme Court to consider a judgement by a Philadelphia federal appeals court last year that ordered the FCC to reconsider its plan to liberalize media ownership rules. The FCC, led by outgoing chairman Michael Powell, had sought to increase the television station ownership cap to 45 percent, from the previous 35 percent. The new ownership rules would have also allowed a media company to own television and newspaper assets in the same market.