Broadcast Ownership for the 21st Century Act

The Broadcast Ownership for the 21st Century Act (H.R. 1035) proposes to relax federal regulations governing how many media outlets a single company can own. The bill would eliminate rules that currently prevent one company from owning both a daily newspaper and a broadcast station in the same market, while also increasing the limit on how much of the national television audience a single company can reach from 35% to 45%. Additionally, it would make it easier for a single entity to own two television stations in the same local area, provided a minimum number of independent media "voices" remain in that community.

For everyday citizens, these changes could lead to greater consolidation in the media industry, potentially resulting in fewer independent owners of local news and entertainment. Proponents of such measures generally argue they allow media companies to remain competitive in a changing digital landscape, while critics often express concern that consolidation could reduce the diversity of viewpoints available to the public.