What are the laws regarding media ownership?

Media ownership laws in North Dakota regulate who can own media outlets in the state. These laws ensure that certain organizations do not have excessive power over media outlets in the state. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has a rule that no single entity can own more than one television station in a single market. If someone does own more than one, then they must divest themselves of one to comply with this rule. This rule is meant to keep one company from controlling too much of the market and making it difficult for other media outlets to compete. The FCC also requires that no single entity can own more than 39% of TV stations’ total nationwide audience. This rule is designed to prevent one company from having too much influence over the content of TV programming. Additionally, the FCC requires that stations must be “broadcast facilities”—that is, they must be “in the public interest” and must provide local programming that reflects the tastes and interests of the local population. The FCC also requires that broadcast licenses be granted on a “competitive and comparative basis.” This means that when a new station is requesting a broadcast license, the FCC will consider the other applicants’ proposals to determine which one would be better for the public. Finally, the FCC requires that any broadcast station that is considered “dominant” in its local market must offer low-cost advertising rates to smaller stations in the market, so that the smaller stations can remain competitive.

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What are the laws regarding media ownership?

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