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HR 3203 106th Congress House

Broadcast Ownership for the 21st Century Act

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to reduce restrictions on media ownership, and for other purposes.

Introduced: November 2, 1999 See on congress.gov
Science, Technology, Communications Administrative procedureAliensCable televisionCommerce
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This bill died when the 106th Congress ended
It never became law before the 106th Congress (1999–2000) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Nov 12, 1999
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection.
Nov 2, 1999
Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.
Nov 2, 1999
Introduced in House
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 Latest action November 12, 1999

Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer Protection.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Broadcast Ownership for the 21st Century Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to direct the FCC to modify current cross-ownership limitations by eliminating provisions limiting the granting or renewal of an AM, FM, or TV broadcast station license to any party on the basis of the ownership, operation, or control of a daily newspaper. Disallows the FCC to prohibit or limit a person or entity from holding any form of ownership or other interest in a broadcast station and a cable system serving the same community. Directs the FCC to permit a TV broadcast station to affiliate with a person or entity that maintains two or more networks of TV broadcast stations, with a limited exception.

Provides that, in calculating the national audience reach limitations, UHF stations shall be attributed with no more than 50 percent of the TV households in their market.

Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to direct the FCC to modify its rules for multiple ownership of TV broadcast stations to increase to 45 (currently 35) percent the national audience reach limitations for TV stations owned by the same entity or person.

Revises provisions prohibiting the granting of radio station licenses to aliens or foreign entities to allow the granting of such a license to the same manner and extent to which such alien's or entity's country allows the granting of such a license to a U.S. person or entity.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Republican 1
FROST, MARTIN
· Nov 2, 1999
 R
Sessions, Pete
Texas · Nov 2, 1999
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3203: Broadcast Ownership for the 21st Century Act. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-3203/
MLA
"H.R. 3203: Broadcast Ownership for the 21st Century Act." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-3203/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3203, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-3203/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3203: Broadcast Ownership for the 21st Century Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-3203/)
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