FCC To Ease Satellite TV Station Sales
At its March 15 meeting, the FCC is scheduled to consider adopting rules that would allow for the sale of satellite television stations (stations that serve principally rural areas primarily by rebroadcasting some or all of another station in the market) without an extensive economic showing of the continuing need for satellite operation. Instead, when evaluating a sale, the FCC proposes to essentially assume that the need for a combined operation continues to exist unless there is a showing to the contrary demonstrating that the satellite could operate independently.
The action is the latest installment of the commission’s Modernization of Media Regulation initiative. The proposal would simplify the reauthorization process when a previously approved satellite station is assigned or transferred.
