Federal Appeals Court Vacates FCC Rules on Media Ownership

A U.S. appeals court vacated a Federal Communications Commission rule relaxing limits on cross-ownership of newspapers and broadcast outlets, saying the agency failed to provide adequate notice.

The FCC in 2007 approved a rule allowing publishers to own both newspapers and broadcast stations in the biggest U.S. cities. CBS Corp., Clear Channel Communications Inc., Gannett Co., and Cox Enterprises Inc. challenged the FCC order for failing to relax the rule further. Consumer groups argued that the FCC didn’t provide adequate notice and that elements of the rule were unsupported by evidence.