Media ownership rules halted

? An appeals court Wednesday blocked the enactment of new federal rules that would allow a single company to own newspapers and broadcast outlets in the same city.

The ruling by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals came in response to a lawsuit by community-radio advocates who fear further media consolidation. The court said the rules, which were to take effect today, needed further study.

The media ownership rules, which the Federal Communications Commission approved in June on a party-line, 3-2 vote, also would allow a single company to own TV stations reaching 45 percent of the nation’s viewers.

Smaller broadcasters and network affiliates are concerned the new rules will allow the networks to gobble up more stations and limit local control of programming. Supporters say the changes will help broadcasters compete in a market changed by cable television, satellite broadcasts and the Internet.

The House, against objections of the Bush administration, voted overwhelmingly in July to block the FCC rules. The Senate plans to take up the issue next week.

The rules were challenged in court by the Prometheus Radio Project, a Philadelphia-based coalition of media access groups that campaigns for greater radio access and helps groups seeking to establish low-power radio stations.

“Given the magnitude of this matter and the public’s interest in reaching the proper resolution, a stay is warranted pending thorough and efficient judicial review,” a three-judge panel of the appeals court wrote in its brief opinion.

An attorney for the Prometheus Project, Samuel Spear, praised the decision. He said his clients believed their ability to broadcast would be hurt by the growth of media conglomerates.

An FCC spokesman said the agency was disappointed by the decision and would continue to defend the new rules in court.