Page 282 - Battleground The Media Volume 1 and 2

M nor ty Med a Ownersh p | 1

1966—The ruling in United Church of Christ v. Federal Communications Com-
mission (FCC), 359 F.2d 994 (1966), opens broadcast licensing hearings to
aggrieved members of the public.
1973—TV 9, Inc. v. FCC, 495 F.2d 929, 937 (D.C. Cir. 1973), directs the FCC to
give favorable consideration to an applicant who proposed to include ethnic
minorities among its owners and managers.
1978—FCC issues the Statement of Policy on Minority Ownership of Broadcast
Facilities, 68 F.C.C.2d 979 (1978), adopting a policy of promoting minority
broadcast ownership.
1990—U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Metro Broadcasting, Inc. v. FCC, 497 U.S.
547 (1990) that the government’s purpose in promoting diversity in program-
ming by its distress sale policy and consideration of minority ownership in
comparative licensing hearings is constitutionally valid.
1995—U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena, 515
U.S. 200 (1995) makes affirmative action minority ownership programs highly
suspect and overturns Metro Broadcasting’s use of the intermediate scrutiny
test.
1996—Telecommunications Act of 1996 spurs consolidation of ownership in the
radio industry.
1999—FCC adopts Failed Station Television Rule. Television Rule Review, 14
F.C.C.R. 12,903, PP 13–14, 74, created to foster minority television ownership
by requiring public notice of a sale of a TV station.
2001—General Electric Company–owned National Broadcasting Co. (NBC) ac-
quires Spanish-language Telemundo Communications Group for $1.98 billion.
2001—Viacom acquires the Black Entertainment Television network (BET) for
$3 billion.
2001—The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA),
reports that minorities own 449 of the 11,865 full-power commercial radio and
television stations in the United States, a mere 3.8 percent.
2003—The FCC repeals the Failed Station Solicitation Rule (FSSR) 1999 Televi-
sion Rule Review,14 F.C.C.R. 12,903, PP 13–14, 74, created to foster minority
television ownership
2003—The FCC votes to relax its media ownership rules.
2003—The FCC approves the merger of Univision, America’s dominant Span-
ish-language TV network, and Hispanic Broadcasting Corporation, the largest
Spanish-language radio network.
2004—In Philadelphia, in Prometheus Radio Project v. FCC, 373 F.3d 372 (2004),
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia rules that the FCC
made irrational and inconsistent assumptions in reaching its justifications for
easing ownership rules. The court also orders the FCC to consider proposals
to promote minority ownership.
2004—La Opinión and El Diario/La Prensa, the largest and oldest Spanish-
language newspapers in the United States, merge to form ImpreMedia LLC.