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HR 3302 109th Congress House

Media Ownership Reform Act of 2005

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prevent excessive concentration of ownership of the nation's media outlets, to restore fairness in broadcasting, and… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to prevent excessive concentration of ownership of the nation's media outlets, to restore fairness in broadcasting, and to foster and promote localism, diversity, and competition in the media.

Introduced: July 22, 2005 See on congress.gov
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Cable televisionCommerceCompetitionCongressCongressional reporting requirementsCorporate divestitureDeregulationDirect broadcast satellitesEconomic concentrationEducationEducational televisionElementary and secondary educationFairness doctrineFamiliesFederal Communications CommissionGovernment Operations and PoliticsGovernment paperworkHigher educationIndependent regulatory commissionsLawLicensesMinoritiesMinority business enterprisesPublic interestPublic meetingsPublic service advertisingRadio broadcastingRadio stationsRegulatory impact statementsRestrictive trade practicesSmall businessSubsidiary corporationsTechnological innovationsTelevision and childrenTelevision broadcastingTelevision industryTelevision programsTelevision relay systemsTelevision stations
This bill died when the 109th Congress ended
It never became law before the 109th Congress (2005–2006) 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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jul 14, 2005
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Jul 14, 2005
Introduced in House
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 Latest action July 14, 2005

Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Media Ownership Reform Act of 2005 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require a broadcast licensee to afford reasonable opportunity for the discussion of conflicting views on issues of public importance, consistent with the rules and policies of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in effect on January 1, 1987.

Prohibits the FCC from permitting any license for a commercial television broadcast station to be granted, transferred, or assigned to any party if such action would result in that party owning, operating, or controlling, or having a cognizable interest in: (1) stations which have an aggregate national audience reach exceeding 25 percent; or (2) such station and a cable television system whose service area overlaps with such commercial station's predicted Grade B contour. Requires any party currently having a license in excess of such limits to divest as necessary to comply with such limits within one year. Reduces from eight to three years the duration of a broadcast station operating license.

Directs the FCC to modify its regulations concerning ownership of national and local radio broadcast stations to place limitations on such ownership (such limitations varying depending on the number of stations in the local market area).

Declares invalid and without legal effect the final rules adopted by the FCC pursuant to its media ownership proceeding, and announced on June 2, 2003 (such rules providing specified media ownership deregulation). Reinstates the rules in effect prior to such rules.

Requires the FCC to: (1) conduct, every three years, a review process concerning media ownership; and (2) prescribe rules to prevent persons controlling the distribution of video programming over network distribution systems from acquiring unreasonable proportions of such programming from subsidiaries or affiliates.

Requires each broadcast licensee, at least every two years, to submit to the FCC, and publish, a report on how the station is meeting the requirement to serve the public interest. Requires each licensee to hold at least two community public hearings per year to determine local needs and interests.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3302: Media Ownership Reform Act of 2005. 109th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-3302/
MLA
"H.R. 3302: Media Ownership Reform Act of 2005." 109th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-3302/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3302, 109th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-3302/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3302: Media Ownership Reform Act of 2005](https://openamerica.io/bill/109-HR-3302/)
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