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If you need the complete document, download the WordPerfect version or Adobe Acrobat version, if available. ***************************************************************** Before the Federal Communications Commission Washington, D.C. 20554 ) In the Matter of ) ) Review of the Commission's Regulations ) MM Docket No. 91-221 Governing Television Broadcasting) ) Television Satellite Stations Review of) MM Docket No. 87-8 Policy and Rules ) REPORT AND ORDER Adopted: August 5, 1999 Released: August 6, 1999 By the Commission: Chairman Kennard and Commissioners Ness, Powell, and Tristani issuing separate statements; Commissioner Furchtgott-Roth dissenting and issuing a statement. TABLE OF CONTENTS Paragraph I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. BACKGROUND 2 III. OVERVIEW 15 IV. LOCAL TELEVISION OWNERSHIP RULE 42 A. Geographic Scope of the Rule 42 B. Permitting Television Duopolies in the Same Local Market 54 1. Modification of the Rule: Eight Voice/Top Four-Ranked 60 Station Standard 2. Waiver Criteria 71 a. Failed Stations 71 b. Failing Stations 78 c. Unbuilt Stations 83 d. UHF Combinations 88 3. Satellite Stations 90 V. RADIO-TELEVISION CROSS OWNERSHIP RULE 92 A. Modification of the Rule 100 B. Waiver Criteria 115 1. Failed Stations 115 2. "Five Factors" Waiver Standard 119 3. Existing Conditional Waivers 123 VI. TELEVISION LOCAL MARKETING AGREEMENTS 126 VII. NEW APPLICATIONS 150 VIII. CONCLUSION 151 IX. ADMINISTRATIVE MATTERS 152 Appendix A: Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis Appendix B: Rules Appendix C: List of Commenters I. INTRODUCTION 1. In this Report and Order, we revise our local television ownership rules -- the "TV duopoly" rule and the radio-television cross-ownership or "one-to-a-market" rule -- to respond to ongoing changes in the broadcast television industry. Our action today culminates a broad- reaching examination of these and other broadcast media ownership rules first initiated by the Commission in 1991, and more recently guided by the statutory directives of the Telecommunications Act of 1996. The new rules we adopt today reflect a recognition of the growth in the number and variety of media outlets in local markets, as well as the significant efficiencies and public service benefits that can be obtained from joint ownership. At the same time, our decision reflects our continuing goals of ensuring diversity and localism and guarding against undue concentration of economic power. The rules we adopt today and in our related national television ownership and broadcast attribution proceedings, being adopted simultaneously with this Report and Order, balance these competing concerns and are intended to facilitate further development of competition in the video marketplace and to strengthen the potential of broadcasters to serve the public interest. II. BACKGROUND 2. The television duopoly rule currently prohibits an entity from having cognizable interests in two television stations whose Grade B signal contours overlap. The Commission rarely grants permanent waivers of the duopoly rule, reserving such relief for cases with unique or highly unusual circumstances. Under current policy, the time brokerage by one television station of another television station, even one in the same market, pursuant to a time brokerage or "local marketing" agreement ("LMA"), is not attributable, and accordingly these relationships are not subject to our multiple ownership rules. The radio-television cross- ownership rule generally forbids joint ownership of a radio and a television station in the same local market. We have presumed it is in the public interest to waive this rule in the top 25 television markets if, post-merger, at least 30 independently owned broadcast voices remain, or if the merger involves a failed station. Such waivers are available to permit ownership of up to one television, one AM, and one FM station per market. We have evaluated other waiver requests case by case, based on an analysis of five criteria (the "five factors" test). 3. This proceeding began in 1991 with the issuance of a Notice of Inquiry soliciting comment on whether existing television ownership rules and related policies should be revised in light of ongoing changes in the competitive market conditions facing broadcast licensees. After reviewing the comments received in response to the NOI, the Commission issued a Notice of Proposed Rule Making containing a number of alternative proposals involving the national and local television ownership rules, and seeking comment on the extent and impact of LMAs in the broadcast television industry. 4. In 1994, in a Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making in this docket, the Commission set forth a competition and diversity analysis for examining our ownership rules. Based on this analysis, the Commission proposed changes to the national television ownership rule, the local television ownership rule (otherwise known as the "duopoly" rule), and the radio-television cross-ownership rule. In addition, the Commission solicited comment on whether broadcast television local marketing agreements ("LMAs") should be considered attributable for purposes of applying the ownership rules in a manner similar to radio LMAs. 5. On February 8, 1996, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 became law. Section 202 of the Act directed the Commission to make a number of significant revisions to its broadcast ownership rules. Section 202 also requires us to review aspects of our local ownership rules that were the subject of the TV Ownership Further Notice. Specifically, Section 202 requires the Commission to: 1) conduct a rulemaking proceeding concerning the retention, modification, or elimination of the duopoly rule; and 2) to extend the top 25 market/30 independent voices one-to-a-market waiver policy to the top 50 markets, "consistent with the public interest, convenience, and necessity." In addition, both the Act and its legislative history contain language regarding the appropriate treatment of existing television LMAs under our ownership rules. Finally, Section 202 directs the Commission to conduct a biennial review of all of its broadcast ownership rules and to repeal or modify any regulation it determines is no longer in the public interest. 6. In view of the 1996 Act's directives regarding broadcast multiple ownership, the Commission in 1996 adopted a Second Further Notice of Proposed Rule Making in this proceeding inviting comment on several issues in light of the 1996 Act. We reiterated that "'our concern with diversity is most acute with respect to local ownership issues.'" We further stated our belief that we should proceed with "reasonable caution" to consider the impact on industry structure made possible by the legislation and by other forces that are "changing, often in unpredictable ways, the marketplace for video programming. . . ." The Commission solicited further comment in light of its review of comments previously filed in this proceeding, and invited comments on a number of specific issues pertaining to the duopoly rule, the radio-television cross-ownership rule, and the treatment of existing television LMAs in the event they are deemed attributable under any rules adopted in our attribution proceeding. 7. Our ownership rules, particularly the local ownership rules at issue in this proceeding, serve a vital public interest by promoting competition and diversity in the mass media. These are bedrock goals -- reaffirmed by Congress and the Supreme Court on numerous occasions -- in carrying out our statutory mandate of ensuring that broadcast licensees serve the "public interest, convenience, and necessity." With these goals in mind, and after carefully reviewing the record in this proceeding, we believe we should relax to some extent our local television ownership restrictions where the public interest benefits resulting from same-market common ownership outweigh the threat to diversity and localism. The record reflects that there has been an increase in the number and types of media outlets available to local communities. With respect to cable television, we recognize that clustering of systems in the major population centers enables cable to compete more effectively for advertising dollars. 8. Specifically, we have decided to modify our local television ownership rule as follows. First, we are relaxing our television duopoly rule by narrowing the geographic scope of the rule from the current Grade B contour approach to a "DMA" test. Thus, common ownership of two television stations will be permitted without regard to contour overlap if the stations are in separate Nielsen Designated Market Areas ("DMAs"). In addition, we will allow common ownership of two stations in the same DMA if their Grade B contours do not overlap (a continuation of our current rule), or if eight independently owned, full-power and operational television stations (commercial and noncommercial) will remain post-merger, and one of the stations is not among the top four-ranked stations in the market, based on audience share, as measured by Nielsen or by any comparable professional and accepted rating service, at the time the application is filed. We will also adopt three waiver criteria as follows. First, we will presume a waiver of the rule is in the public interest to permit common ownership of two television stations in the same market where one station is a "failed station," as supported by a showing that the station either has been off the air for at least four months immediately preceding the application for waiver, or is currently involved in involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings. Second, we will presume a waiver of the rule is in the public interest where one of the merging stations is a "failing" station, as supported by a showing that the station has had a low audience share and has been financially struggling during the previous several years, and that the merger will result in demonstrable public interest benefits. Third, we will presume a waiver is in the public interest where applicants can show that the combination will result in the construction and operation of an authorized but as yet "unbuilt" station, supported by a showing that the permittee has made reasonable efforts to construct. For all of these waivers, we will also require a showing that the in-market applicant is the only buyer ready, willing, and able to operate the station, and that sale to an out-of-market applicant would result in an artificially depressed price. 9. With respect to the radio-television cross-ownership rule, we are adopting a new, three-part rule that permits some degree of same-market radio and television joint ownership. We will permit a party to own a television station (or two television stations if permitted under our modified TV duopoly rule or television LMA grandfathering policy) and any of the following radio station combinations in the same market:  up to six radio stations (any combination of AM or FM stations, to the extent permitted under our local radio ownership rules) in any market where at least 20 independent voices would remain post-merger;  up to four radio stations (any combination of AM or FM stations, to the extent permitted under our local radio ownership rules) in any market where at least 10 independent voices would remain post- merger; and  one radio station (AM or FM) notwithstanding the number of independent voices in the market. In addition, in those markets where our revised rule will allow parties to own eight outlets in the form of two TV stations and six radio stations, we will permit them to own one TV station and seven radio stations instead. 10. For purposes of the new radio-television cross-ownership rule, we will count as voices all independently owned, full-power, operational, commercial and noncommercial television stations licensed to a community in the DMA in which the TV station in question is located, and all independently owned and operational commercial and noncommercial radio stations licensed to, or with a reportable share in, the radio metro market where the TV station involved is located. In addition, we will count independently owned daily newspapers that are published in the DMA and have a circulation exceeding 5 percent in the DMA. Finally, we will count, as a single voice, wired cable service, provided cable service is generally available in the DMA. As with our revised duopoly rule, we will permit waiver of our new radio/TV cross-ownership rule where one station is a failed station. We will not, however, adopt a presumptive waiver based on a showing that one station is a failing station or that the combination will result in the construction and operation of an authorized but as yet unbuilt station. We will consider further relaxation of this rule and waiver policies as part of future biennial reviews. 11. We have granted a number of radio-television cross-ownership rule waivers conditioned on the outcome of this proceeding. The majority of these waivers involve radio-television combinations that will now be permissible under the revised rule we adopt today. For those that are not covered by the revised rule, as well as for those for which an application was filed on or before July 29, 1999 (the date of the "sunshine" notice for this Report and Order) if such application is ultimately granted by the Commission, we will allow these combinations to continue, conditioned on the outcome of the Commission's 2004 biennial review. Parties who wish the Commission to conduct this review prior to 2004 may apply for such relief, using criteria set forth below, beginning one year after the date this Report and Order is published in the Federal Register. Any transfer of a grandfathered combination after the adoption date of this Report and Order (whether during the initial grandfathering period of after a permanent grandfathering decision has been made) must meet the radio/TV cross-ownership rule. 12. Finally, with respect to existing television LMAs, we have decided in our related attribution proceeding to attribute time brokerage of another television station for purposes of our multiple ownership rules where the brokered and brokering station are in the same market and the amount of time brokered is more than 15 percent of the brokered station's weekly broadcast hours. Once attributed, however, the majority of currently existing same-market television LMAs will not violate our new TV duopoly rule going forward, because they either will be in separate DMAs, or will constitute an otherwise permissible arrangement under the new rule or related waiver policies. We will permit those LMAs that do not comply with our new duopoly rule and waiver policies to continue in full force and effect, if entered into before November 5, 1996, the grandfathering cut-off date proposed in the Second Further Notice. LMAs entered into on that date or thereafter must come into compliance with our new duopoly rule and/or waiver policies or terminate within two years of the adoption date of this Report and Order. Television LMAs entered into before November 5, 1996 will be grandfathered, conditioned on the outcome of the Commission's 2004 biennial review, at which time the Commission will reconsider their status. Parties who wish the Commission to review the status of their LMAs prior to the 2004 biennial review may apply for such relief, using the criteria specified below, beginning one year after the date this Report and Order is published in the Federal Register. During the initial grandfathering period, the parties to the LMA may renew and/or transfer the term of LMA that remains in the five-year period. 13. We note that a number of parties have expressed concern about the fact that greater consolidation of ownership in broadcasting makes it more difficult for new entrants -- parties that own no or only a few mass media outlets -- to enter this industry. This is particularly the case for minorities and women who are underrepresented in broadcasting. We share these concerns. The Commission has recognized the importance of promoting new entry into the broadcast industry as a means of promoting competition and diversity. Indeed, we have adopted a "new entrant" bidding credit as part of our broadcast auction procedures for these reasons and also to comply with our statutory mandate to "ensure that small businesses, rural telephone companies, and businesses owned by members of minority groups and women are given the opportunity to participate in the provision of spectrum-based services." We will monitor the effects of the relaxation of our local TV ownership rules on new entry. 14. We are now guided in considering initiatives to encourage greater minority and women-owned mass media businesses by a 1995 Supreme Court decision that held that any federal program that uses racial or ethnic criteria as a basis for decision-making is subject to strict judicial scrutiny; to withstand this scrutiny, any such programs must now be shown to "serve a compelling governmental interest, and must be narrowly tailored to further that interest." We are presently conducting studies that we believe will allow us to address this issue in the context of our broadcast licensing and ownership policies. Upon the completion of these studies, we will examine the steps we can take to expand opportunities for minorities and women to enter the broadcast industry. In the interim, we encourage broadcasters to establish incubator programs and to engage in other cooperative ventures that will boost new entry into the broadcast industry, particularly with regard to the participation of women and minorities in the mass media. III. OVERVIEW 15. The ultimate objectives of our ownership rules are to promote diversity and to foster economic competition, while minimizing any adverse effects our pursuit of these goals has on the efficient organization of the industry. All of our broadcast cross-ownership and multiple ownership rules, including the "TV duopoly" and "one-to-a-market" rules at issue in this proceeding, are based on these "twin goals" of competition and diversity. For example, when the Commission adopted the current version of the TV duopoly rule in 1964, it stated that its multiple ownership rules "seek to promote maximum diversification of program and service viewpoints and to prevent undue concentration of economic power contrary to the public interest." The Commission explained: The concept embodied in these rules is not complex: When two stations in the same broadcast service are close enough together so that a substantial number of people can receive both, it is highly desirable to have the stations owned by different people. This objective flows logically from two basic principles underlying the multiple ownership rules. First, in a system of broadcasting based upon free competition, it is more reasonable to assume that stations owned by different people will compete with each other, for the same audience and advertisers, than stations under the control of a single person or group. Second, the greater the diversity of ownership in a particular area, the less chance there is that a single person or group can have 'an inordinate effect, in a political, editorial, or similar programming sense, on public opinion at the regional level.'" Similarly, when the Commission adopted the one-to-a-market rule in 1970, it likewise stated that the rule has a "twofold objective: (1) [f]ostering maximum competition in broadcasting, and (2) promoting diversification of programming sources and viewpoints." 16. In considering the changes we have proposed to our local television ownership rules, we must assess the costs and benefits of such modifications in light of both our diversity and competition objectives. Our multiple ownership restrictions must strike a balance between the benefits to the industry and to the public of common ownership, such as economies of scale which can result in stronger stations and improved service to the public, and the reduction in the diversity of ownership and competition in a market that may arise from consolidation of station ownership. We must also take into account marketplace developments and the increased competition broadcasters are facing from other mass media outlets. 17. Promoting Diversity. One of the most important purposes of our multiple ownership rules is to encourage diversity in the ownership of broadcast stations so as to foster a diversity of viewpoints in the material presented over the airwaves. As the Supreme Court recently reaffirmed, "'it has long been a basic tenet of national communications policy that "the widest possible dissemination of information from diverse and antagonistic sources is essential to the welfare of the public."'" This diversity policy is consistent with, and in fact furthers, the First Amendment goal of fostering the "marketplace of ideas" and encouraging "uninhibited, robust, and wide-open" debate. For these reasons, the Supreme Court has stated that it has "no difficulty" in concluding that the Commission's interest in "promoting widespread dissemination of information from a multiplicity of sources" is "an important governmental interest"; indeed, the Supreme Court has stated that "assuring that the public has access to a multiplicity of information sources is a governmental purpose of the highest order, for it promotes values central to the First Amendment." 18. This is especially the case with respect to broadcasting. Broadcast stations, particularly television stations, reach large audiences and are the primary source of news and entertainment programming for Americans. Broadcasters consequently play a leading role in shaping democratic debate and cultural attitudes. For example, the manner and viewpoint a station uses in presenting the news can have a substantial impact on a local election. A television drama that raises controversial or important societal issues can not only be entertaining but also shape cultural attitudes about these issues in significant ways. There is consequently a vital public interest in ensuring that these influential outlets for communication are in the hands of a broad number of different owners. 19. Our concern for ensuring diversity in broadcasting is most pressing at the local level. As the Commission explained in the TV Ownership Further Notice, "[t]he reasons for seeking diversity on the local level are readily apparent. Monopolization [of] the means of mass communication in a locality assure the monopolist control of information received by the public and based upon which it makes elective, economic and other choices. Measures to prevent such control have taken the form of our duopoly and one-to-a-market rule and our newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule, all of which limit the ability of a single person or entity to control local organs of mass communications in a geographic locale." 20. The strong policy of promoting diversity is distinct from our competition goal. As the Supreme Court has recognized as recently as 1997, "[f]ederal policy . . . has long favored preserving a multiplicity of broadcast outlets regardless of whether the conduct that threatens it is motivated by anticompetitive animus or rises to the level of an antitrust violation." Whether or not a particular ownership combination may have anticompetitive effects in the sale of advertising time or other markets in which broadcasters compete, it may nonetheless reduce the diversity of independently owned voices in a community. Congress implicitly recognized this in amending the local radio ownership rules in the 1996 Act. Although these amendments significantly relaxed these rules, they nevertheless maintained a set of radio ownership limitations. Congress promoted diversity separate and apart from competition. Indeed, Section 202(b) of the 1996 Act, which sets forth the new limitations, is titled "Local Radio Diversity." Moreover, in discussing the radio-television cross-ownership rule, the Conference Report to the 1996 Act noted "the potential for public interest benefits of [radio-television station combinations] when bedrock diversity interest[s] are not threatened," and further stated that in reviewing this rule the FCC should take into account not only the increased competition facing broadcasters but also "the need for diversity in today's radio marketplace." 21. Congress has repeatedly emphasized in other contexts its concern for promoting diversity in the mass media, notwithstanding the increasingly competitive nature of virtually all communications markets. For example, the 1996 Act, as stated in its preamble, seeks to establish a "pro-competitive, de-regulatory national policy framework," yet still directs the Commission, in Section 257, in identifying and eliminating market entry barriers for entrepreneurs and other small businesses in certain services, "to promote the policies and purposes of this Act favoring diversity of media voices." Likewise, among the policies of the Cable Competition and Consumer Protection Act of 1992 ("1992 Cable Act") were not only to "ensure that cable television operators do not have undue market power," but also to "promote the availability to the public of a diversity of views and information." The 1992 Cable Act's requirement that cable systems carry the signals of local broadcast stations also reflects Congress' efforts to advance diversity. The Supreme Court has also consistently recognized the strong public policy of promoting viewpoint diversity in the mass media. 22. Some question whether diverse outlets and sources lead to diverse viewpoints, or whether our rules are necessary to promote diversity, suggesting that commonly owned outlets can produce diverse viewpoints equally as well as separately owned outlets. We disagree with these arguments. As the Commission stated when it adopted the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule, ". . . it is unrealistic to expect true diversity from a commonly-owned newspaper combination. The divergency of their viewpoints cannot be expected to be the same as if they were antagonistically run." As the Commission explained, "[t]he significance of ownership from the standpoint of 'the widest possible dissemination of information' lies in the fact that ownership carries with it the power to select, to edit, and to choose the methods, manner and emphasis of presentation, all of which are a critical aspect of the Commission's concern with the public interest." Although the issue is not easily susceptible to empirical proof, we think intuitive logic and common sense support our belief that the identity and viewpoint of a station's owner can in fact influence the station's programming. This certainly can be seen when a station chooses to editorialize, as well in many other decisions affecting a station's news and other programming. 23. The Supreme Court has upheld the Commission's judgment that there is a positive correlation between a station's ownership and its editorial viewpoint. The Court observed in Metro Broadcasting, with reference to the Commission's decision adopting the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule, that the link between ownership and viewpoint is logical because "'ownership carries with it the power to select, to edit, and to choose the methods, manner and emphasis of presentation. . . .'" In part because of this intuitive logic, the Supreme Court, in upholding the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rule, stated in National Citizens Committee for Broadcasting that ". . . notwithstanding the inconclusiveness of the rulemaking record, the Commission acted rationally in finding that diversification of ownership would enhance the possibility of achieving greater diversity of viewpoint. . . . In these circumstances, the Commission was entitled to rely on its judgment, based on experience, that 'it is unrealistic to expect true diversity from a commonly owned station- newspaper combination. The divergency of their viewpoints cannot be expected to be the same as if they were antagonistically run.'" 24. We consequently believe our local television ownership rules continue to further the important public interest of promoting diversity. Of course, in attempting to foster our diversity goals through structural regulation, we endorse a content-neutral method that does not evaluate the substance of any station's editorial decisions, but seek only to ensure a sufficient number of independently owned outlets to attempt to maximize the available independent viewpoints in a given local market. 25. Promoting Competition. As we stated in the TV Ownership Further Notice, an important part of the Commission's public interest mandate is to promote competition, because competition promotes consumer welfare and the efficient use of resources. Competitive markets serve the public interest because such markets generally result in lower prices, higher output, more choices for buyers, and more technological progress than markets that are less competitive. To encourage competition, the Commission's structural ownership rules and policies have been aimed at precluding broadcasters from obtaining and exercising market power. We have concluded that local ownership rules serve the public interest by preventing broadcasters from "dominat[ing] television and radio markets and wield[ing] power to the detriment of small owners, advertisers, and the public interest." 26. Competition is likely to be greater in markets where many separate firms vie to serve the customer than in markets where few firms serve the market. In general, the intensity of price competition in a given market is directly related to the number of independent firms that compete for the patronage of consumers. A larger rather than a smaller number of firms competing in the same market usually results in lower unit price to consumers, all other things remaining the same. Conversely, as the number of firms declines from many to few, price competition is diminished, and the unit price paid by consumers may be expected to increase. 27. As both the radio and television broadcast industries consolidate to achieve operating efficiencies and improvements in the scope and quality of services available to consumers, effective constraints on the possible attenuation of price competition in broadcasting advertising markets will derive increasingly from the growing availability of substitute products and services that compete with television advertising and programming. To the extent that such competing media and programming are, or will, become effective constraints on the possible exercise of market power by incumbent television broadcasters, then concerns about the possible adverse effects of increasing concentration on competition in the television broadcasting industry will be substantially diminished. 28. Broadcasters compete in numerous markets: the markets for delivered video and audio programming, the national and local advertising markets, and geographically diverse (perhaps worldwide in scope) markets for programming. In each of these markets, the Commission has taken steps to increase competition and the range of choices for consumers. For example, we have increased the number of licensed broadcast television and radio stations to benefit viewers, listeners, and advertisers. Similarly, we have facilitated the development of alternative technologies such as cable television, direct broadcast satellite ("DBS") service, digital audio radio satellite ("DARS") service, multichannel multipoint distribution service ("MMDS"), and open video systems ("OVS") to increase the range of choices open to advertisers, viewers and listeners. We have also adopted various rules and regulations to permit and promote the development of new networks to increase competition to long-time broadcast networks and thus increase viewer options. In each market, we have tried to increase the number and variety of suppliers to benefit customers. 29. Increased Consumer Choice. Numerous commenters in this proceeding have provided evidence concerning the continued growth in the number of mass media delivery systems. For example, there are currently 11,600 cable systems passing more than 94 million homes and serving almost 65 million TV households. Aside from cable, there are also a number of other multichannel delivery systems, although many are still establishing themselves in the marketplace and generally do not provide an independent source of local news and informational programming. They include: Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), which currently provides up to 240 channels to over 7 million subscribers; MMDS, which serves 1 million subscribers; SMATV, which has almost 1 million subscribers. In addition, over 2 million households have Home Satellite Dishes (HSD), and Open Video Systems (OVS) has 66 thousand subscribers. In addition to these alternative media, there has been an increase in the number of traditional broadcast outlets since adoption of our ownership rules. Since 1970, when the radio-television cross-ownership rule was adopted, the total number of radio and television stations has increased by over 85 percent. This increase is attributable largely to increased popularity of FM radio and maturation of the UHF television service. The Commission has also adopted a DTV standard, a Table of Allotments for DTV, and DTV service rules which include a timetable for construction of DTV facilities. Taken together, these actions provide the opportunity to increase the number of program services provided by broadcast television. 30. In the TV Ownership Further Notice and Second Further Notice, we requested commenters to provide us with evidence regarding the degree to which these and other alternative media serve as economic substitutes for broadcast television and radio in the program delivery, advertising, and program production markets. Although most commenters agreed that various media substitute for each other to some extent in these markets, we received no evidence quantifying intermedia substitutability. 31. We are aware of no definitive empirical studies that quantify the extent to which the various media are substitutable in local markets. The most extensive study in the record of this proceeding is provided by National Economic Research Associates, Inc. ("NERA") in support of comments filed by the Local Station Ownership Coalition ("LSOC"), and indicates that broadcast television competes in the local spot advertising market with a wide variety of media, including radio, cable, direct mail, newspapers, magazines, yellow pages, and billboards. NERA's study was conducted in response to a U.S. Department of Justice request pertaining to the degree of cross-elasticity of demand between local spot advertising on television and other media. NERA analyzed the boundaries of the relevant product market for local advertising within the Cleveland DMA and the nature of competition for the purchase and sale of advertising there. For evidence on substitutability, NERA looked at information from sellers and buyers, the academic and trade press, and general trends in rates and advertising purchasers. NERA reaches two conclusions relevant to this discussion. First, because local spot television prices result from bilateral oral negotiations between advertising buyers and sellers, the data required to construct the formal statistical estimates of cross-elasticities of demand within the Cleveland DMA the Commission asked for are not available. Second, NERA believes that other information, including a survey of advertising buyers in Cleveland and a survey of the academic and trade literature, is sufficient to conclude that the relevant product market includes electronic media (radio, broadcast television, and cable television) and nonelectronic media (direct mail, newspapers, magazines, yellow pages and billboards). 32. Economists Incorporated ("Economists Inc.") also submitted an economic study in response to the TV Ownership Further Notice. Economists Inc. contends that reliance on current antitrust enforcement standards will protect the public from the creation of market power in local advertising markets. Similar to the NERA study, Economists Inc. analyzed the boundaries of the relevant product market for local advertising and submits illustrative competitive calculations in five DMAs (New York, Cleveland, Portland, Richmond and Amarillo). Economists Inc. concludes that the product market proposed by the Commission includes broadcast stations, cable systems, radio stations, local newspapers, as well as yellow pages, outdoor and direct mail. In support of its conclusion, Economists Inc. states that there is abundant evidence of competition between different types of advertising media. As is typically the case, they assert, there are no econometric studies that demonstrate quantitatively the extent of substitution by advertisers among various types of advertising in response to changes in relative prices. It would be very difficult to conduct such a study because transaction prices for alternative media, as well as non-price terms, are negotiated for each advertising contract and are not publicly available. The practice in antitrust analysis is to rely on other types of information. Relevant advertising markets are defined with the assistance of information obtained in interviews with advertisers and executives at advertising agencies. To obtain the relevant information, Economists Inc. interviewed seven advertising agency executives and one media consultant on a confidential basis to obtain information on competition between advertising sold to local advertisers by broadcast television stations and other advertising media in a certain urban area. The individuals interviewed were at advertising agencies that spend significant sums of money on broadcast television advertising in that urban area. 33. The weight of the evidence in this record supports the general conclusion that there may be some intermedia substitutability in the markets served by broadcasters. As to competitive concerns underlying our ownership rules, this evidence justifies some relaxation of our local television ownership rules, as it suggests that consumers and advertisers may have more viable alternatives to broadcast stations than they once had. The evidence, however, does not support more extensive relaxation or elimination of the rules at this time because it is insufficient to characterize generally the degree of the substitutability of different media. This is a critical issue, for many of the arguments for greater relaxation or elimination of our ownership rules are premised on the assertion that consumers and advertisers have the option of turning to a large number of nonbroadcast media. Yet there remain unresolved questions about the extent to which these alternatives are widely accessible and provide meaningful substitutes to broadcast stations. A recent econometric study finds that other advertising media are not good substitutes for radio advertising and that radio advertising probably constitutes a separate antitrust market. In future biennial reviews we will ask parties to submit more evidence on the extent to which intermedia competition can be relied on to constrain anticompetitive behavior and provide additional outlets for diverse viewpoints to the public. 34. Benefits of Common Ownership. Economic theory suggests, and the record in this proceeding largely confirms, that there may be certain efficiencies inherent in joint ownership and operation of television stations in the same market, and of radio-television combinations. These efficiencies can in turn lead to cost savings, which can lead to programming and other service benefits that enhance the public interest. Much of the evidence regarding the efficiencies of common ownership is anecdotal and is provided by broadcasters drawing upon their own experience in operating a same-market television LMA or a radio-television combination. The efficiencies mentioned by these broadcasters include the ability to co-locate and share the studio and office facilities of same-market stations, sharing of administrative and technical staffs, efficiencies in advertising and promotion, and efficiencies involving news gathering and sales operations. Although the greatest benefits of common ownership likely occur between stations located in the same market, efficiencies are also possible among stations located in separate markets. 35. Two commenters provided estimates of the specific cost savings that may be generated by these efficiencies. According to Pegasus Communications Corporation ("Pegasus"), construction of a new stand-alone TV station costs at least $5 million, with an additional $1-2 million required for locally produced programming or news. Pegasus estimates that combining a second new station with an already existing facility will reduce the fixed operating costs of the second station by up to two-thirds, cut required capital investment for the second station by as much as two-thirds, and make it possible for local news production costs to be shared by the two stations (possibly creating two news efforts where there was previously none). ALTV asserts that co-location of facilities in a single market can produce cost savings of approximately 25%. Other evidence of cost savings and efficiencies came from numerous broadcasters' descriptions of the benefits of same-market LMAs. According to many of these reports, LMAs have saved failing stations, and permitted them to invest in more expensive programming and updated facilities. 36. The cost savings of joint station ownership may contribute to programming benefits, including more news, public affairs, and other non-entertainment programming as well as enhanced entertainment programming choices for viewers and listeners. Again, the evidence in the record of such benefits was largely anecdotal and related to same-market LMAs. Examples of the benefits broadcasters claimed resulted from such arrangements include first-time presentation of local news on the brokered station, change of the brokered station format from infomercials to one with other entertainment and non-entertainment programming, acquisition by the brokered station of a network affiliation, and improved news and public affairs programming on both stations. In addition to programming benefits, other possible benefits of joint station ownership include enabling a struggling station to continue to provide service to the public or returning a dark station to the air, possible activation of a new or unused radio or TV allocation, and improvement in the technical facilities of the stations, and creation of new jobs in the community. 37. Need for Relaxation of Ownership Limits. We believe the considerations we have described above warrant relaxation to some extent of our local television ownership restrictions. The record reflects that there has been an increase in the number and types of media outlets available to local communities. With respect to cable television, we recognize that clustering of systems in the major population centers enables cable to compete more effectively for advertising dollars. In markets with many separate licensees and a variety of other media outlets, we believe the benefits of joint ownership in certain instances outweigh the cost to diversity from permitting such combinations. There is evidence concerning the efficiencies inherent in joint ownership and operation of television stations in the same market, and of radio-television combinations. These efficiencies can lead to cost savings, which in turn can lead to programming and other service benefits that serve the public interest. 38. At the same time, we do not agree with those parties that argue for greater relaxation or elimination of the local television ownership rules due to the important competition and diversity goals at stake. As discussed above, there is insufficient evidence regarding the extent of substitutability and the availability of local programming among the different media now available to consumers. In addition, there already has been a high degree of consolidation in the broadcast industry since passage of the 1996 Act, which liberalized the radio and national television ownership rules. Over 2,100 radio stations changed hands in 1996 and again in 1997, and 1740 changed hands in 1998. At the national level, the number of owners of commercial radio stations has declined by 12.1 percent from 5,133 to 4,512. This decline is primarily due to mergers between existing owners. 39. At the local level, there has also been a downward trend in the number of radio station owners per market. Since passage of the 1996 Act, the average number of radio station owners across all radio metro markets declined from 14 to 11, a loss of about three owners per market. The top 10 radio metro markets experienced an average loss of 5 owners per market, from about 33 owners to about 28 owners per market. The smallest radio metro markets (markets 101-268) experienced an average loss of about two owners per market, from about 10 owners to 8 owners. Further, the top owners in each metro market generally account for an increasing share of total radio advertising revenues in these markets. For example, the top four radio owners in each metro market, on average, account for more than 91 percent of their metro market's total revenues, compared to about 83 percent in March 1996. This increasing level of ownership concentration suggests that it is appropriate for us to move prudently so that we can monitor consolidation to prevent harm to competition and diversity. 40. Our decision today is an exercise in line drawing -- perennially one of the most difficult yet inevitable challenges facing a government agency. On the one hand, we want to allow broadcasters and the public to realize additional economic efficiencies and public interest benefits generated by common ownership. On the other hand, we must ensure that diversity and competition are protected, especially in view of the vital role played by broadcast television in our society. Currently, 98 percent of the population owns a television set and thus has access to the entertainment, sports, local and national news, election results, weather advisories, access for candidates, children's educational programming, and other public interest programming it provides. Although the number of video competitors to television continues to increase, broadcast television remains the primary source of news and information for most Americans. 41. Balancing these competing considerations based on the record before us, and recognizing the continuing dominant role played by broadcasting in society and the continuing importance of ensuring that diversity and competition are protected, we believe that the revisions we make today to our rules reflect the degree of relaxation warranted by the growth of alternatives to broadcast television, the demonstrated benefits of common ownership, and our objective of ensuring diversity and competition. Of course, we will monitor the effects of our changes on our competition and diversity goals, as well as ongoing changes in the media environment, and we will adjust our ownership rules as needed in the context of future biennial reviews. IV. THE LOCAL TELEVISION OWNERSHIP RULE A. Geographic Scope of the Rule 42. Background. Our local television ownership rule presently prohibits common ownership of two television stations whose Grade B signal contours overlap. In the TV Ownership Further Notice, we sought comment on whether the geographic scope of the rule should be changed to Grade A signal contours or to Designated Market Areas ("DMAs"). Based on the comments we received, we tentatively concluded in the Second Further Notice that the geographic scope of the local television ownership rule should be based on a combination of DMAs and Grade A contours. We sought comment on that tentative conclusion in the Second Further Notice, as well as comment about possible exceptions to and waivers of the rule to permit television duopolies in certain circumstances where they would serve the public interest. 43. Comments. While a few of the broadcasters that commented on the issue of the proper geographic scope of the television duopoly rule supported the Commission's proposal to rely on a joint DMA/Grade A test, the majority of broadcasters urged the Commission to define the geographic market by DMA only, without reference to Grade A signal contours. Those advocating a DMA-only test argued generally that the DMA is the best single measure of the relevant geographic market for television stations because it defines the market in which stations compete for viewers, ratings, programming, and advertisers. 44. Those broadcasters that supported the Commission's tentative proposal to rely on a joint DMA/Grade A test generally concurred with other broadcasters that the DMA component of the test best reflects a station's economic market. These commenters gave different reasons for supporting the additional Grade A component of the test. ABC and NAB stated that a combined DMA/Grade A standard is appropriate since different-market stations with Grade A overlaps may in some cases compete for viewers and advertisers. Two other commenters expressed the view that a DMA standard alone could lead to a level of consolidation that would threaten the Commission's diversity and competition goals. 45. Two broadcasters, Jet Broadcasting Co., Inc. ("Jet") and Sunbelt Communications Company ("Sunbelt"), supported replacing the existing Grade B contour measure with a Grade A measure, without reference to DMAs. Jet argues that the Grade A contour best represents the area in which stations compete because it includes the area in which viewers can regularly expect to receive a station's signal. Jet and Sunbelt raise a number of arguments against relying on DMAs for the new duopoly rule, including the fact that DMA boundaries are subject to change thereby creating some uncertainty, and that use of DMA to determine the permissibility of multiple ownership penalizes stations that are not carried on a cable system. 46. Finally, four commenters supported retaining the Grade B-based duopoly rule. The NTIA, Media Access Project, which filed jointly with nine other public interest groups (jointly referred to herein as "MAP et al."), Centennial Communications, Inc. ("Centennial") and BET Holdings, Inc. ("BET") generally argued that relaxation of the current duopoly rule would increase concentration in the television market and adversely affect diversity. Centennial argued that relaxation of the duopoly rule would reduce the number of independent sources of programming to viewers and increase the advantage of group owners in bidding for programming, thus narrowing access to programs for independent stations. NTIA argued that relaxation of the duopoly rule would increase the demand for television properties and impair the ability of minorities to enter the broadcast industry. NTIA cites a recent study which shows a positive relationship between minority broadcast ownership and the supply of minority-oriented programming. NTIA also argued that the Commission's DTV proceedings offer the prospect of increasing diversity by expanding the number of broadcast channels, but that relaxation of the ownership rules at this time may permit consolidation that would foreclose this opportunity. Before the duopoly rule is relaxed, NTIA believes that the Commission should study the cumulative impact of recent changes in the television market on competition and diversity. 47. Discussion. After careful analysis of the record in this proceeding, we have decided to narrow the geographic scope of the television duopoly rule so as to permit common ownership of television stations provided they are in different DMAs without regard to contour overlap. We will also continue to allow common ownership of stations within the same DMA as long as their Grade B contours do not overlap. We have chosen this DMA test based on our belief that, compared to the current Grade B signal contour standard, DMAs are a better measure of actual television viewing patterns, and thus serve as a good measure of the economic marketplace in which broadcasters, program suppliers and advertisers buy and sell their services and products. Changing the geographic scope of the duopoly rule will consequently more accurately define a local television market and permit mergers of stations in different markets without harming local competition and diversity. Moreover, we believe that the mergers that will be allowed under our new rule can lead to improved television service and viewer choice. 48. There are several benefits to defining the geographic dimensions of the local television market by reference to DMAs. Most importantly, unlike a rule relying on predicted field strength contours, DMAs reflect actual television viewing patterns and are widely used by the broadcasting and advertising industries. DMAs reflect the fact that a station's audience reach, and hence its "local market," is not necessarily coextensive with the area of its broadcast signal coverage. For example, a station's over-the-air reach can be extended by carriage on cable systems and other multichannel delivery systems, as well as through such means as satellite and translator stations. In designating DMAs and compiling DMA-based ratings of television programs, Nielsen Media Research, a TV audience measuring service, collects viewing data from diaries placed in television households four times a year. Nielsen assigns counties to DMAs annually on the basis of television audience viewership as recorded in those diaries. Counties are assigned to a DMA if the majority or, in the absence of a majority, the preponderance, of viewing in the county is recorded for the programming of the television stations located in that DMA. Nielsen uses its DMA viewing data to compile DMA-based audience ratings for television programs. These data are used by television stations in deciding which programming should be aired, and by advertisers and stations in negotiating advertising rates. 49. The Commission traditionally has employed DMAs or a similar geographic measure in other rules. Such a geographic measure is the Area of Dominant Influence ("ADI"), used by the Arbitron Company to define a television station's geographic market according to audience viewing patterns. In the past, we have used ADIs for purposes of calculating an entity's national television audience reach under our national television ownership rule. In the National TV Ownership Report and Order we are issuing today, we are adopting our proposal to use DMAs instead of ADIs in calculating national audience reach because Arbitron stopped updating its ADI market data in 1993. For the same reason, the Commission is now using DMAs rather than ADIs to define the market within which a broadcast television station is entitled to cable must-carry or retransmission consent. Commercial market measurements such as DMAs are presently used by the Commission to define markets in other contexts as well, e.g., waivers of the one-to-a-market rule in the top 25 television markets. 50. We recognize that we proposed in the Second Further Notice to supplement the DMA test with a Grade A contour standard to prohibit common ownership of stations with Grade A signal contour overlap even when they are in separate DMAs. However, after considering the comments in response to this proposal, we believe a "DMA-only" test is more appropriate. Although a station may attract some viewers who live outside its designated DMA, the preponderance of its audience will reside within its DMA. As CBS noted in its comments, local advertisers use DMA-based ratings to make their purchases of advertising time on local television stations, television networks generally have only one affiliate in each DMA, and stations target their programming to viewers inside the DMA because these are the viewers that advertisers pay to reach. The record also indicates that there are a fair number of stations that lie in different DMAs and serve wholly different markets even though they may have slightly overlapping Grade A contours. In addition, a DMA- only standard is more straightforward and easy to apply in terms of administering the rule. We consequently will not adopt a Grade A component in our new definition of the geographic scope of the duopoly rule. 51. This new definition will generally be less restrictive than the current Grade B signal contour test. There may be some situations, however, in which this is not the case, particularly in some geographically large DMAs west of the Mississippi River. In these situations, the DMA may be large enough that two stations situated in the DMA do not have overlapping Grade B contours. Common ownership of the two stations would be permitted under the existing rule but not under a strict application of the new DMA standard. 52. In the Second Further Notice, we noted our belief that there are currently few stations within the same DMA that could be commonly owned under the existing Grade B signal contour standard that are not already jointly owned. We sought comment on whether we should, if we adopted a DMA/Grade A rule, grandfather existing joint ownership combinations that conform to our current Grade B test. We also sought comment on an alternative approach of adopting a two-tiered rule under which we would permit common ownership both under the new test using DMAs and in situations where there is no Grade B overlap. Commenters addressing this issue agreed with our proposal to adopt a two-tiered rule that would permit same- DMA stations with no Grade B overlap to combine. 53. It is our intention in this proceeding to relax the duopoly rule consistent with our competition and diversity objectives. It is not our intention to restrict combinations that would be permitted under our present Grade B signal contour test. To avoid this result, we will continue to permit common ownership of television stations in the same DMA where there is no Grade B overlap between those stations. Although such stations may compete to some extent for viewers and advertisers, we believe any harm to diversity and competition from permitting such combinations will be minimal and we wish to avoid instances in which application of our new rule would be more restrictive than our current duopoly rule. In addition, this approach avoids disrupting current ownership arrangements involving stations in the same DMA with no Grade B overlap. B. Permitting Television Duopolies in the Same Local Market 54. Background. In both the TV Ownership Further Notice and the Second Further Notice, we invited comment on whether, in certain situations, we should allow entities to acquire more than one television station in the same geographic market. We sought comment both on exceptions to our "one-station" local ownership rule, including the exception currently provided in our rules for television satellite stations, as well as on a number of possible waiver criteria. In the Second Further Notice, we outlined five specific waiver criteria for evaluation: (1) combinations involving at least one UHF station; (2) combinations involving a "failed" station; (3) applications to acquire vacant or new channel allotments; (4) combinations involving stations with a small market share or where a minimum number of voices would remain post-merger; and (5) showings of significant public interest benefits that would result from the merger. In so doing, we requested evidence of the projected benefits of television duopolies, as well as evidence regarding the relationship between ownership concentration and diversity. 55. Comments. Most broadcasters supported permitting same-market duopolies in some form, arguing that common ownership can produce significant efficiencies and public interest benefits. Views differed regarding the extent to which mergers should be permitted and whether they should be allowed by exception to the rule, presumptive waiver, or case-by-case waiver. Many commenters favored combinations in which at least one of the parties is a UHF station. Some advocated UHF/UHF combinations only, while others would also permit a UHF to combine with a VHF station. A number of commenters also supported permitting VHF/VHF combinations in Hawaii, Alaska, or Puerto Rico, and in circumstances involving a failed station or vacant allotment. 56. A number of other commenters opposed television duopolies on the ground they would threaten competition and diversity in local markets. Bahakel Communications ("Bahakel") and Centennial Communications, Inc. ("Centennial") expressed concern that combinations of same-market stations would increase the already considerable disadvantages faced by independently-owned stations in competing against group-owned stations in purchasing programming. Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc. generally opposes same- market duopolies because of the dangers to competition and diversity, but would permit waivers in the case of a failed station or unused frequency. MAP et al. expressed the view that while same-market duopolies may increase program diversity, they threaten viewpoint diversity, which is a more fundamental concern. BET and AWRT express concern that relaxation of the television ownership rules could raise the barriers to entry for women and minorities in the broadcasting industry. 57. Costs and Benefits of Broadcast TV Station Duopolies. We believe that the demonstrated benefits of same-market television station combinations support allowing the formation of such combinations in certain cases where competition and diversity will not be unduly diminished. The record in this proceeding shows that there are significant efficiencies inherent in joint ownership and operation of television stations in the same market, including efficiencies related to the co-location and sharing of studio and office facilities, the sharing of administrative and technical staff, and efficiencies in advertising and news gathering. These efficiencies can contribute to programming and other benefits such as increased news and public affairs programming and improved entertainment programming, and, in some cases, can ensure the continued survival of a struggling station. In markets with many separate television licensees, the public interest benefits of common ownership can outweigh any cost to diversity and competition of permitting combinations. 58. While we conclude that the public interest would be served by permitting television duopolies in certain circumstances, we are not eliminating or relaxing the rule to the extent a number of commenters advocate given the important diversity and competition issues at stake. Television broadcasting plays a very special role in our society. It is the primary source of news and information, as well as video entertainment to most Americans, and we must continue to ensure that the broadcast television industry has a diverse and competitive ownership structure. Moreover, as discussed above, because the communications industry is undergoing rapid change and increasing consolidation, significant yet measured relaxation of the television duopoly rule is appropriate to allow us to monitor the results of these sweeping changes. 59. In light of these considerations, we have decided to adopt a modification to our duopoly rule, and three waiver tests, that are targeted to promote the public interest without appreciable harm to our competition and diversity goals. In particular, as described below, we will modify the TV duopoly rule to allow common ownership of two stations in the same DMA, if eight independently owned and operating commercial and noncommercial television stations will remain in the DMA post-merger, and at least one of the stations is not among the top four-ranked stations in the market, based on audience share, as measured by Nielsen or by any comparable professional and accepted rating service, at the time the application is filed. In addition, we will presume that a waiver of the rule is in the public interest if the applicant satisfies a "failed" or "failing" station test, or involves the construction of an "unbuilt" station. We will monitor the impact that our new rules and waiver policies have on our competition and diversity goals and adjust them as appropriate, as part of future biennial reviews of our ownership rules under the 1996 Act. 1. Modification of the Rule: Eight Voice/Top Four-Ranked Station Standard 60. Background. In the Second Further Notice, the Commission sought comment on whether we should entertain joint ownership of stations that (1) have very small audience or advertising market shares and (2) are located in a very large market where (3) a specified minimum number of independently owned voices remain post-merger. We stated that the purpose of such a standard would be to enhance competition and diversity in the local market by allowing small stations to share costs and thereby compete more effectively. We further stated that such joint ownership could potentially serve the public interest if such stations were to use their economic savings to produce new and better-quality programming or related enhancements. Such advantages may be particularly helpful to small and independent UHF stations. We invited comment on the circumstances under which joint ownership should be permitted, and on the size of the market share we might adopt, the number and kinds of voices we should count in any minimum voice criterion, and whether we should include a market rank test. 61. Comments. While broadcasters were generally supportive of the concept of same-market mergers, their comments on the specific criteria for them were mixed. ALTV is skeptical about reliance on market share standards. It notes that the Department of Justice already uses market share measures in its antitrust enforcement, and asserts that Commission duplication is unnecessary. ALTV also argues that market share measurement is complex and that its use could act as a disincentive to improve program quality. NAB, LSOC, and other broadcasters also oppose using a test based on market share. 62. ALTV is also skeptical about reliance on "minimum number of voices" standards since the number of voices is lowest in the small markets that would, in their opinion, benefit most from local station combinations. Other broadcasters echoed this concern about prohibiting mergers in smaller markets. If the Commission uses a "minimum number of voices" standard, ALTV advocates that the Commission count a variety of media as voices including radio, cable, MMDS, DBS, telephone company video platforms, newspapers, magazines, video cassette rentals, and other non-broadcast information sources such as the Internet. LSOC and Pappas also advocate counting all media voices in the market, both broadcast and non- broadcast. 63. BET is opposed to allowing mergers based on market share, market size, or the number of voices for the same reasons that it opposes the use of a failed station waiver, i.e., that it will unfairly advantage incumbents against entrants, particularly minority entrants, and harm diversity. MAP et al. argues that a small market share/minimum number of voices policy permits elimination of competitors serving niche needs. If mergers are granted under this criterion, MAP et al. asks that the Commission require a specific showing about what kinds of enhanced programming will result and ensure that these promises are met. 64. Discussion. After considering the record, and our competition and diversity goals, we have decided to modify the duopoly rule to permit any two television stations in the same market to merge if:  at least eight independently owned and operating full-power commercial and noncommercial TV stations would remain post-merger in the DMA in which the communities of license of the TV stations in question are located, and  the two merging stations are not both among the top four-ranked stations in the market, as measured by audience share. If any entity acquires a duopoly under this standard, it will not later be required to divest if the number of operating television voices within the market falls below eight or if the two merged stations subsequently are both ranked among the top four stations in the market; however, a duopoly may not automatically be transferred to a new owner if the market does not satisfy the eight voice/top four-ranked standard. In such a case, the transaction must either meet one of the waiver standards enunciated below, or involve a sale to separate parties. We will not include a market rank component in our new rule because we believe such a test is unnecessary given the station rank and minimum number of stations criteria we are adopting. We adopt this "eight voice/top four-ranked station" standard as a modification of the rule as opposed to the adoption of a waiver criterion in order to fashion a bright-line test, bring certainty to the permissibility of these transactions, and expedite their consummation, given that we do not believe as a general matter that they unduly compromise our competition and diversity goals. We delegate to the Mass Media Bureau the authority to grant any application that satisfies the eight station/top four ranked station standard, and presents no new or novel issues. 65. This standard provides measured relaxation of the television duopoly rule, particularly in the larger television markets. It will allow weaker television stations in the market to combine, either with each other or with a larger station, thereby preserving and strengthening these stations and improving their ability to compete. These station combinations will allow licensees to take advantage of efficiencies and cost savings that can benefit the public, such as in allowing the stations to provide more local programming. At the same time, the station rank and voice criteria are designed to protect both our core competition and diversity concerns. 66. The "top four ranked station" component of this standard is designed to ensure that the largest stations in the market do not combine and create potential competition concerns. These stations generally have a large share of the audience and advertising market in their area, and requiring them to operate independently will promote competition. In addition, our analysis has indicated that the top four-ranked stations in each market generally have a local newscast, whereas lower-ranked stations often do not have significant local news programming, given the costs involved. Permitting mergers among these two categories of stations, but not among the top four-ranked stations, will consequently pose less concern over diversity of viewpoints in local news presentation, which is at the heart of our diversity goal. Indeed, by allowing mergers between large and small stations, this prong of our new rule responds to those broadcasters who argued that the best way to improve the ability of small stations to compete is to allow them to combine with the largest stations in the market. According to these broadcasters, large stations are better positioned to provide the financial and other assistance required by many small stations to improve their technical facilities and programming to allow them to compete more effectively in the market. 67. The "eight independent voice" component of the rule provides a clear benchmark for ensuring a minimum amount of diversity in a market. The Commission has historically used voice count tests in other contexts (i.e., in waiver standards for the radio-television cross-ownership rule) as a means of promoting diversity. Taking into account current marketplace conditions, the eight voice standard we adopt today strikes what we believe to be an appropriate balance between permitting stations to take advantage of the efficiencies of television duopolies while at the same time ensuring a robust level of diversity. Thus, under our new rule, at least eight independently owned and operating full-power commercial and noncommercial broadcast television stations must remain in the DMA post-merger. We will not include in our count of independently owned television stations those that are brokered pursuant to an attributable same-market LMA because a substantial portion of the programming of brokered stations is furnished by the brokering station. This gives the brokering station a significant degree of influence over the brokered station's operations and programming such that it should not be counted as an independent source of viewpoint diversity; indeed, it is for this reason we have decided to attribute such TV LMAs in our attribution proceeding. 68. We believe that an "eight station" test that focuses only on the number of full-power broadcast television outlets in the market is necessary for two reasons. First, we believe that broadcast television, more so than any other media, continues to have a special, pervasive impact in our society given its role as the preeminent source of news and entertainment for most Americans. As the Supreme Court recently stated, "[b]roadcast television is an important source of information to many Americans. Though it is but one of many means for communication, by tradition and use for decades now it has been an essential part of the national discourse on subjects across the whole broad spectrum of speech, thought, and expression." 69. Second, as described above, we are unable to reach a definitive conclusion at this time as to the extent to which other media serve as readily available substitutes for broadcast television. In the TV Ownership Further Notice and Second Further Notice, we sought information about the extent to which other media serve as substitutes for television in the advertising and delivered video programming markets, and for purposes of diversity. For example, in the TV Ownership Further Notice, we stated that for the purpose of competition analysis, we would tentatively consider local advertising markets to include broadcast and cable television advertising, radio advertising, and newspaper advertising. For delivered video programming, we tentatively included commercial and noncommercial television stations and cable television. While we expressed our inclination to tentatively include MMDS, DBS, and television delivered by telephone companies, we expressed concern about the extent to which the latter three alternatives were actually available to most Americans and sought quantitative, behavioral studies estimating the extent to which broadcast television actually faced substitutes from any and all sources in the marketplace. Although we have received voluminous materials debating such substitutability, we have not received the quantitative, empirical studies that we sought in order to assess this issue in a complete and accurate fashion. Nor does there seem to be a consensus on the extent to which various media are substitutes for purposes of diversity. Thus, while we agree with those commenters who argued that different types of media, such as radio, cable television, VCRs, MMDS, and newspapers, may to some extent be substitutes for broadcast television, in the absence of the factual data we requested we have decided to exercise due caution by employing a minimum station count that includes only broadcast television stations. 70. Our "eight voice/top four ranked station" standard provides significant relaxation of the television duopoly rule while at the same time ensures that markets remain sufficiently diverse and competitive at the local level so that common ownership of two television stations in these markets does not threaten our core diversity concerns. We recognize that stations in markets with less than nine independent voices will not be able to take advantage of this standard. But we believe this is appropriate given that these markets start with fewer broadcast television outlets, and thus a lower potential for providing robust diversity to viewers in such markets. While we recognize, as several commenters argued, that smaller markets also benefit from the efficiency gains and cost savings associated with joint station ownership, it is in these small markets that consolidation of broadcast television ownership could most undermine our competition and diversity goals. Moreover, the three waiver standards we adopt today -- the failed and failing station criteria, and the unbuilt station test -- will, consistent with our competition and diversity goals, provide relief in a more tailored fashion for stations in smaller markets that are unable to compete effectively. 2. Waiver Criteria a. Failed Stations 71. Background. We invited comment in the Second Further Notice on whether, if an applicant can show that it is the only viable suitor for a failed station, the Commission should grant the application regardless of contour overlap or DMA designations. We noted that for purposes of our one-to-a-market rule waiver standard, a "failed" station is a station that has not been operated for a substantial period of time, e.g., four months, or that is involved in bankruptcy proceedings. We asked whether this standard should be used in evaluating a request to waive the television duopoly rule. 72. Comments. There was considerable support among broadcasters for a failed station waiver. These commenters argued generally that some service, even if it is duplicative of another voice in the market, is better than no service at all. In contrast, BET and MAP et al. opposed granting a failed station waiver on the ground it would hinder the ability of new entrants, particularly minorities and women, to enter the television industry, thereby diminishing opportunities to increase diversity of broadcast ownership. BET advocated awarding failed station licenses to new entrants via auction or comparative hearing. 73. Discussion. We are persuaded that the public interest would be served by adopting a failed station waiver standard for our revised television duopoly rule. A station that is off the air or in involuntary bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings can contribute little, if anything, to any type of diversity in a local market. Nor does such a station constitute a viable alternative in the local advertising market. As we concluded in adopting our current failed station waiver standard for the one-to-a-market rule, the benefits to the public of joint ownership under these circumstances outweigh the costs to diversity. In fact, dark or bankrupt stations actually disserve our goal of efficient use of the spectrum because those stations are holding valuable frequencies without providing service to the public. Permitting another local station to acquire a failed station will result in additional programming, perhaps an increase in diversity in the market, and more advertising time available for sale in larger quantities. 74. Although we share the concern expressed by NTIA, MMTC, BET, MAP et al., and AWRT about new entry into broadcasting, the apparent decline in minority and female ownership of broadcast facilities, and the need to encourage broadcast ownership diversity, we are not convinced that that concern undermines our reasons for establishing a failed station waiver policy. We believe the benefit to the public of keeping a failed station on the air or returning a dark station to service is significant. We further note that the economies of scale that result from common ownership may in many circumstances be the only viable means of rejuvenating a failed station in an expeditious manner. Moreover, as discussed below, to qualify for the waiver, an applicant must demonstrate that the in-market buyer is the only reasonably available candidate willing and able to operate the station, and that selling the station to an out-of-market buyer would result in an artificially depressed price. To satisfy this element of the waiver standard, applicants will be required to give public notification that the station is for sale. Thus, minorities and women interested in purchasing a station will have an opportunity to bid. We remain very concerned about the more general problem of the decline in minority broadcast ownership and possible mechanisms to increase minority and female ownership in broadcasting, but nonetheless believe our failed station waiver criteria serve the public interest. The Commission has made a number of efforts separate from this proceeding to address minority and female ownership issues, and we hope to take further steps in this area. 75. We have decided to define a "failed station" for purposes of our television duopoly rule as one that has been dark for at least four months or is involved in court-supervised involuntary bankruptcy or involuntary insolvency proceedings. In addition, we will require that the waiver applicant demonstrate that the "in-market" buyer is the only reasonably available entity willing and able to operate the failed station, and that selling the station to an out-of-market buyer would result in an artificially depressed price for the station. 76. This standard is stricter than the failed station standard used in the context of our current one- to-a-market rule. First, we are limiting our TV duopoly failed station waiver to stations in court-supervised involuntary bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings. By excluding voluntary bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings, we hope to avoid the issue of whether an owner has filed for bankruptcy or insolvency simply in order to qualify for a waiver. We will extend our failed station waiver here to apply to both insolvency and bankruptcy proceedings, as the former are a state-regulated mechanism similar to bankruptcy. Second, we are requiring applicants to make a serious attempt to sell the troubled station to an entity that would not require a waiver of our revised duopoly rule. Waiver applicants must demonstrate that the "in-market" buyer is the only reasonably available entity willing and able to operate the station, and that selling to another buyer would lead to an artificially depressed price for the station. One way to make this showing will be to provide an affidavit from an independent broker affirming that active and serious efforts have been made to sell the station, and that no reasonable offer from an entity outside the market has been received. We believe that a strict failed station waiver standard is warranted in view of the other steps we are taking today to relax the television duopoly rule. While there are now other limited criteria pursuant to which same-market television stations may combine, we hope to limit the special relief awarded to failed stations to those situations where this relief is clearly needed. As with our current one-to-a-market failed station waiver standard, we will be predisposed to grant applications that meet the waiver standard, but will entertain petitions to deny seeking to rebut the waiver request. 77. To qualify for a waiver under the failed station standard, we will require the waiver applicant to provide relevant documentation, i.e., proof of the length of time that the station has been off the air, or proof that the station is involved in bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings. We will also require, in the case of a silent station, a statement that the failed station went dark due to financial distress, not because of other, non-financial reasons. This documentation will ensure that the waiver standard is applied only to stations facing financial difficulties. We will not require the waiver applicant to demonstrate that the market will contain post-merger a minimum number of voices. As noted above, we have concluded that the benefits to the public of preventing a station from going dark or bringing a dark station back on the air cannot harm and may help diversity and competition, regardless of the number of broadcast and other voices in the local market. Any combination formed as a result of a failed station waiver may be transferred together only if the combination meets our new duopoly rule or one of our three waiver standards at the time of transfer. b. "Failing" Stations 78. Background and Comments. The Second Further Notice also invited comment on whether we should adopt a failing station waiver criteria, and, if so, the appropriate definition of a failing station. Many broadcasters supported adopting a waiver policy for failing stations, contending that the Commission should not wait for a local station to go dark or bankrupt before permitting a merger. 79. Discussion. We will adopt a "failing" station waiver standard. It will permit two stations to merge where at least one of the stations has been struggling for an extended period of time both in terms of its audience share and in its financial performance. Permitting such stations to merge should pose minimal harm to our diversity and competition goals, since their financial situation typically hampers their ability to be a viable "voice" in the market. These stations rarely have the resources to provide local news programming, and often struggle to provide significant local programming at all. Allowing a "failing" station to join with a stronger station in the market can greatly improve its ability to improve its facilities and programming operations, thus benefitting the public interest. This waiver standard may be of particular assistance to struggling stations in smaller markets that are not covered by the eight voice/top four ranked station test. 80. We agree with the commenters that argued that it makes little sense to force a station to go dark or declare bankruptcy before considering whether it should receive a waiver of the duopoly rule to permit it to merge with another station in the market. Of course, determining when a station is "failed" is a more straightforward task, since there are clear, objective criteria for identifying such a status, i.e., a station is dark or in bankruptcy. A "failing" station standard, by contrast, will involve more of an individualized, case-by-case assessment to determine when a station is struggling to such an extent that permitting it to merge with another station will not undermine our competition and diversity goals and may in fact promote them. 81. With these considerations in mind, and based on the record before us, we establish the following criteria for granting waivers under a "failing" station waiver standard. We will presume such a waiver is in the public interest if the applicant satisfies each of these criteria: (1) One of the merging stations has had low all-day audience share (i.e., 4% or lower). (2) The financial condition of one of the merging stations is poor. A waiver is more likely to be granted where one or both of the stations has had a negative cash flow for the previous three years. The applicant will need to submit data, such as detailed income statements and balance sheets, to demonstrate this. Commission staff will assess the reasonableness of the applicant's showing by comparing data regarding the station's expenses to industry averages. (3) The merger will produce public interest benefits. A waiver will be granted where the applicant demonstrates that the tangible and verifiable public interest benefits of the merger outweigh any harm to competition and diversity. At the end of the stations' license terms, the owner of the merged stations must certify to the Commission that the public interest benefits of the merger are being fulfilled, including a specific, factual showing of the program-related benefits that have accrued to the public. Cost savings or other efficiencies, standing alone, will not constitute a sufficient showing. (4) The in-market buyer is the only reasonably available candidate willing and able to acquire and operate the station; selling the station to an out-of-market buyer would result in an artificially depressed price. As with the showing required of failed station waiver applicants, one way to satisfy this fourth criterion will be to provide an affidavit from an independent broker affirming that active and serious efforts have been made to sell the station, and that no reasonable offer from an entity outside the market has been received. Any combination formed as a result of a failing station waiver may be transferred together only if the combination meets our new duopoly rule or one of our three waiver standards at the time of transfer. 82. We believe these criteria provide a reasonable means of providing relief from our television duopoly rule consistent with our competition and diversity goals. If necessary we will tailor these criteria further as we gain experience in administering the "failing" station standard. c. Unbuilt Stations 83. Background. In the Second Further Notice, we invited comment on whether we should entertain requests to waive the local television ownership rule to permit a local broadcast television licensee to apply for a television channel allotment that has remained vacant or unused for an extended period of time. We stated there that it may not be in the public interest to allow allotted broadcast channels to lie fallow -- particularly in markets where it might be possible to allow additional NTSC stations to come on the air without adversely affecting the DTV allotment table and the transition to digital television. Similarly, we asked whether, if it is possible to create new channel allotments in a market without interfering with nearby channels and without adversely affecting the DTV allotment table, the Commission should entertain applications by an incumbent television licensee to establish a new channel in its market. 84. Discussion. Since we adopted the Second Further Notice, the rationale for a vacant allotment waiver policy has become less relevant. In the DTV Sixth Report and Order, we eliminated vacant NTSC allotments in order to better achieve our DTV objectives of full accommodation, service replication and spectrum recovery. We further stated that new television stations should be operated as DTV stations, and that there would be no need to maintain vacant NTSC allotments that were not the subject of a pending application or rule making proceeding. Thus, with the licensing of new NTSC service coming to an end, we believe that the proposed rationale for a vacant allotment waiver policy has been largely vitiated because there would be few, if any, situations where that basis for a waiver would apply. As the development of DTV continues, it is possible that new channels may again become available for licensing. If so, we may reconsider this issue at that time or in the context of our biennial review of our multiple ownership rules. 85. Although we no longer find it appropriate to adopt a vacant allotment waiver standard, we have concluded that the public interest would be served at this time by adopting a duopoly waiver standard for "unbuilt" television stations. The unbuilt station waiver we adopt is premised on essentially the same logic as supports our failed and failing station waiver standards. A station that has gone unbuilt, like a built station that has gone dark, cannot contribute to diversity or competition. On the other hand, activation of a construction permit and construction of a station, even by the owner of another television station in the market if that is the only viable means to obtain service, increases program choice for viewers, may increase outlet diversity, and increases the amount of advertising time available for sale in the market We believe that the benefits to the public of construction and operation of such a station, even if through joint ownership, rather than allowing the channel to remain unused, outweigh any costs to diversity and competition. 86. To qualify for a duopoly waiver under this standard, we will require that applicants satisfy each of these criteria: (1) The combination will result in the construction of an authorized but as yet unbuilt station. (2) The permittee has made reasonable efforts to construct, and has been unable to do so. (3) The in-market buyer is the only reasonably available candidate willing and able to acquire the construction permit and build the station and selling the construction permit to an out-of- market buyer would result in an artificially depressed price. As with the showing required of failed and failing station waiver applicants, one way to satisfy this criterion will be to provide an affidavit from an independent broker affirming that active and serious efforts have been made to sell the permit, and that no reasonable offer from an entity outside the market has been received. Any combination formed as a result of an unbuilt station waiver may be transferred together only if the combination meets our new duopoly rule or one of our three waiver standards at the time of transfer. 87. We believe our criteria for unbuilt station waivers will ensure that they will only be available in situations in which allowing purchase by an in-market buyer is consistent with our competition and diversity goals. If necessary we will tailor these criteria further as we gain experience in administering this standard. d. UHF Combinations 88. Background and Comments. In the Second Further Notice, we invited comment on the extent to which the Commission should distinguish between UHF and VHF stations in applying our TV duopoly rule. A number of parties have argued that the Commission should adopt a UHF exception or waiver policy for the duopoly rule. Many broadcaster commenters in this proceeding advocated permitting UHF combinations, either by rule or waiver. Other commenters disagreed, arguing that the historical disadvantage of UHF stations has diminished, in part as a result of increased cable penetration and the increased competition for affiliates among major and emerging networks. They also pointed out that the implementation of DTV may substantially mitigate, if not entirely eliminate, the technical handicap of UHF stations. 89. After careful consideration of the comments, we have decided not to create a UHF exception or UHF waiver policy for several reasons. First, a UHF exemption or waiver policy is an overbroad means of promoting the public interest. As we noted in our Report and Order eliminating the prime time access rule for television networks, many UHF stations are financially successful, are network affiliates, and are part of large station groups. Thus, a blanket exception or waiver for all UHF stations would unfairly benefit more powerful affiliates as well as struggling stations. Second, cable carriage compensates for many of the technical disadvantages faced by UHF stations vis-a-vis their VHF counterparts. Cable penetration is near 70 percent nationwide. Moreover, the Supreme Court's decision upholding the statutory must-carry rights of television stations removes a major source of uncertainty among UHF stations about their ability to obtain cable carriage. Third, deployment of DTV should eliminate, over the next several years, many of the remaining disadvantages of UHF stations. The Commission's power limitations for DTV licensees will likely reduce the technical discrepancy of UHF and VHF stations, and the multichannel capabilities of digital transmission should enhance the ability of UHF stations to compete in the video marketplace. Fourth, licensees may continue to take advantage of the satellite station exception to the TV duopoly rule, which is designed to assist financially struggling stations that cannot operate as stand-alone full-service stations. Finally, we believe that the financial problems faced by particular UHF stations can more appropriately be addressed, at least to some extent, by the other duopoly waiver criteria we are adopting today. As discussed above, these criteria are targeted to assist stations facing financial hardships. We therefore will not create a waiver policy or exception to the TV duopoly rule based on whether a station is in the UHF or VHF band. 3. Satellite Stations 90. Background. Generally, television satellite stations retransmit all or a substantial part of the programming of a commonly-owned parent station. Satellite stations are generally exempt from our broadcast ownership restrictions. In the Second Further Notice, we noted that the Commission first authorized TV satellite operations in small or sparsely populated areas with insufficient economic bases to support full-service operations. Later we authorized satellite stations in smaller markets already served by full-service operations but not reached by major networks. More recently, we have authorized satellite stations in larger markets where the applicant has demonstrated that the proposed satellite could not operate as a stand-alone full-service station. We stated in the Second Further Notice that we saw no reason to alter our policy of exempting satellite stations from our local ownership rules, but invited comment on this conclusion. All the commenters that addressed this issue supported continuing the exception of satellite stations from the duopoly rule. 91. Discussion. We believe that continued exception of satellite stations from the duopoly rule is appropriate. As we stated in the Second Further Notice, our satellite station policy rests in part on the questionable financial viability of the satellite as a stand-alone facility. As such, our policy has furthered the underlying goals of our ownership restrictions by adding additional stations to local television markets where these stations otherwise would not have been established. In addition, the other criteria we use to evaluate satellite operations, including service to underserved areas, ensure that satellite operations are consistent with our goals of promoting diversity and competition. V. RADIO-TELEVISION CROSS-OWNERSHIP RULE 92. Background. The radio-television cross-ownership rule, or the "one-to-a-market" rule, forbids joint ownership of a radio and a television station serving substantial areas in common. In 1989, the Commission amended the rule to permit, on the basis of a presumptive waiver, radio-television mergers involving one television and one AM and one FM station, in the Top 25 television markets if, post-merger, at least 30 independently owned broadcast voices remain in the relevant market, or if the merger involves a failed station. Our current policy also permits waivers on a case-by-case basis if the merger satisfies a group of five separate criteria. 93. In the TV Ownership Further Notice, we proposed to eliminate the cross-ownership restriction in its entirety or replace it with an approach under which cross-ownership would be permitted where a minimum number of post-acquisition, independently owned broadcast voices remained in the relevant market. We tentatively concluded there were two alternative approaches toward modifying the rule. If radio and television stations do not compete in the same local advertising, program delivery, or diversity markets, we proposed to eliminate the rule entirely and rely on our radio and television local ownership rules to ensure competition and diversity at the local level. Under the local radio ownership rules in effect at that time, this would have permitted entities to own one AM, one FM, and one television station in even the smallest markets, and up to 2 AM, 2 FM, and one television station in larger markets. In contrast, if we concluded that radio and television did compete in some or all of the local markets, we proposed to modify the one-to-a-market rule to permit radio-television combinations in markets where there are a sufficient number of remaining independent voices to ensure sufficient diversity and competition. 94. After adoption of the Further Notice, Congress passed the 1996 Act, which affects the radio- television cross-ownership rule in at least two ways. First, Section 202(d) of the Act directs the Commission to extend the radio-television cross-ownership presumptive waiver policy to the top 50, rather than top 25, television markets "consistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity." Second, Section 202(b)(1) of the Act liberalized the local radio ownership rules. Now, a party may own up to 8 commercial radio stations, not more than five of which are in the same service (AM or FM), in radio markets with 45 or more commercial radio stations, up to 7 commercial radio stations, not more than 4 of which are in the same service, in radio markets with 30-44 commercial radio stations, and up to 6 commercial radio stations, not more than 4 of which are in the same service, in radio markets with 15-29 commercial radio stations. In radio markets with 14 or fewer commercial radio stations, one party can own up to 5 commercial radio stations, not more than 3 of which are in the same service, provided that no party may own, operate or control more than 50% of the stations in the market. 95. In our Second Further Notice, based on the statutory changes to the local radio ownership rules, we requested further comment on our radio-television cross-ownership rule proposals. First, we sought further comment on whether the rule should be eliminated based on a finding that radio and television stations do not compete in the same market. Second, even if we consider television and radio stations to be competitors, we asked if the radio-television cross-ownership rule could be eliminated because the respective radio and television ownership rules alone can be relied upon to ensure sufficient diversity and competition in the local market. We also sought to update the record on a number of specific options for modifying, but not eliminating, the rule. In this regard, and consistent with Section 202(d) of the 1996 Act, we proposed, at a minimum, to extend the Top 25 market/30 voice waiver policy to the Top 50 markets. However, we also invited comment on a number of options to change the rule beyond what was contemplated by Section 202(d) of the 1996 Act. For example, we asked whether the presumptive waiver policy should be extended further to any television market where the minimum number of independent voices would remain after the merger. We also invited comment on whether the presumptive waiver policy should be extended to entities that seek to own more than one FM and/or AM radio station, and whether the Commission should reduce the number of required independently owned voices that must remain after a merger. Finally, we asked whether our "five factors" test should be changed or refined to be more effective in protecting competition and diversity. 96. Comments. The commenting broadcasters, with a few exceptions, favored elimination of the one-to-a-market rule or, failing that, substantial relaxation of the rule. These broadcasters generally pointed to the large number of media, both broadcast and non-broadcast, that compete with radio and television in the local market as evidence that elimination of the rule would not adversely affect competition and diversity. They also argued that allowing radio/television combinations leads to cost savings that enhance the ability of broadcasters to compete with their multichannel video competitors, and permits investment in better quality programming and facilities that improve service to the public. In addition, some broadcasters argued that in circumstances where concerns about competition exist, the Department of Justice should exercise jurisdiction to stem abuses, rather than the FCC. 97. Public interest groups, joined by a few broadcasters, advocated that the one-to-a-market rule be retained. These parties argued generally that the rule is necessary to retain diversity and competition in the local market and to prevent an increase in the barriers to entry into broadcast ownership faced by minorities, women, and small businesses. Black Citizens for a Fair Media, joined in its comments by thirteen other public interest groups (BCFM et al.), argued that the local radio and television ownership rules alone cannot be relied upon to ensure diversity and competition in the local market, and that the radio-television cross-ownership rule is more important now to protect diversity as a result of the 1996 Act's relaxation of the radio and television ownership limits and the consolidation in the industry that has followed. AWRT, BET, and MAP et al. urged the Commission to proceed cautiously in any effort to relax its ownership rules and to evaluate fully the increasing concentration of control in mass media ownership. 98. With respect to the Commission's specific proposals for modifying, but not eliminating, the one-to-a-market rule, most broadcasters supported extending the presumptive waiver policy to all markets that satisfy a minimum independent voice test. Although broadcasters generally believed there is no reason to retain the one-to-a-market rule, if the rule is retained they argue that the thirty-voice presumptive waiver policy should be extended to apply to all markets regardless of market rank. In addition, most broadcasters supported extending the presumptive waiver policy to permit entities to own the maximum number of stations permitted by the separate radio and television ownership limits. Several commenters pointed out that television owners are now treated less favorably than radio owners for no rational reason in that a radio owner may own multiple stations up to the maximum allowed by the radio limits, while a television owner may own only one AM and one FM station in the same market, where 30 independent voices remain post-merger, without making a showing under the current five factors test. In the absence of a finding that the latter combination threatens local-market competition and diversity more than the former, these commenters argued the difference in treatment is unjustifiable. Many broadcasters also supported reducing the minimum number of independent voices that must remain after a merger under the presumptive waiver policy and expanding the list of media counted as voices. 99. Public interest groups, joined by a few broadcasters, generally opposed relaxing the one-to-a- market rule further than directed by Congress, citing the same diversity and competition concerns they raised in opposing elimination of the rule. BCFM also opposed expanding the definition of independently-owned voices to include media forms that are not yet widely available and do not carry local news and public affairs programming. A. Modification of the Rule 100. Discussion. We have determined that the public interest would be best served at this time by relaxing the radio-television cross-ownership rule to permit same-market joint ownership of radio and television facilities up to a level that permits broadcasters and the public to realize the benefits of common ownership while not undermining our competition and diversity concerns. Our new rule consists of three parts. First, we will permit a party to own up to two television stations (provided this is permitted under our modified TV duopoly rule or TV LMA grandfathering policy) and up to six radio stations (any combination of AM or FM stations, to the extent permitted under our local radio ownership rules) in any market where at least 20 independently owned media voices remain in the market after the combination is effected. In those markets where our revised rule will allow parties to own a total of eight outlets in the form of two TV stations and six radio stations, we will also permit them instead to own eight outlets in the form of one TV station and seven radio stations. Second, we will permit common ownership of up to two television stations and up to four radio stations (any combination of AM or FM stations, to the extent permitted under our local radio ownership rules) in any market where at least 10 independently owned media voices remain after the combination is effected. And, third, we will permit common ownership of up to two television stations and one radio station notwithstanding the number of independent voices in the market. In determining which stations are subject to the new rule, we will use the same contour overlap standards used in our present rule. We delegate to the Mass Media Bureau the authority to grant any application that satisfies the new radio/TV cross-ownership rule, and presents no new or novel issues. If a voice test is required to acquire a given combination (i.e., any combination that includes more than one radio/TV combination), that combination will not later be required to be undone if the number of independent voices in the market later falls below the applicable voice test. However, a radio/TV combination may not be transferred to a new owner if the market does not satisfy the applicable voice standard at the time of sale. 101. As described below, we will eliminate our five factor case-by-case waiver standard. Waivers of our new three-part rule will be granted only in situations involving a failed station and in extraordinary circumstances in which the proponent of the waiver will face a high hurdle. We will define a failed station for purposes of our new radio/TV cross-ownership rule in the same manner as that term is defined for purposes of the failed station waiver we adopt today in connection with our television duopoly rule. Any combination formed as a result of a failed station waiver may be transferred together only if the combination meets our new radio/TV cross-ownership rule or our failed station waiver standard at the time of transfer. 102. Rationale for Modified Rule. We relax our radio/TV cross-ownership rule to balance our traditional diversity and competition concerns with our desire to permit broadcasters and the public to realize the benefits of radio-television common ownership. We believe that the revised rule reflects the changes in the local broadcast media marketplace. The relaxed rule recognizes the growth in the number and types of media outlets, the clustering of cable systems in major population centers, the efficiencies inherent in joint ownership and operation of both television and radio stations in the same market, as well as the public service benefits that can be obtained from joint operation. At the same time, the voice test components of the revised rule also ensure that the local market remains sufficiently diverse and competitive. 103. The new three-part rule also ensures the application of a clear, reasoned standard. One of our primary goals in this proceeding is to provide concrete guidance to applicants and the public about the permissibility of proposed transactions. This minimizes the burdens involved in complying with and enforcing our rules. It also promotes greater consistency in our decision-making. Since development of the Commission's waiver policy in 1989, the Commission has granted a significant number of waivers in order to provide broadcasters relief from the one-to-a-market rule, which prohibited any common ownership of television and radio stations in the same market. Indeed, some commenters argue that this waiver process has come to govern regulation of same-market radio-television cross-ownership, rather than the rule itself. Today, we redirect our approach by amending the rule to provide a greater degree of common ownership of radio and television stations while at the same time limiting waivers of this new rule to only extraordinary circumstances. In addition, the new rule will ease administrative burdens and will provide predictability to broadcasters in structuring their business transactions. 104. A number of commenters argued that we should eliminate our radio-television cross-ownership rule entirely. We do not believe that course is appropriate at this time. We stated in the TV Ownership Further Notice that elimination of the rule might be warranted if we concluded that radio and television stations do not compete in the same local advertising, program delivery, or diversity markets. Although radio and television stations may or may not compete in different advertising markets, we believe a radio-television cross- ownership rule continues to be necessary to promote a diversity of viewpoints in the broadcast media. The public continues to rely on both radio and television for news and information, suggesting the two media both contribute to the "marketplace of ideas" and compete in the same diversity market. As these two media do serve as substitutes at least to some degree for diversity purposes, we will retain a relaxed one-to-market rule to ensure that viewpoint diversity is adequately protected. 105. Although we decline to eliminate our radio-television cross-ownership rule, the demonstrated benefits of same-market broadcast combinations support relaxing the rule and allowing such combinations in circumstances where we find that diversity and competition remain adequately protected. The record in this proceeding demonstrates that there are significant efficiencies inherent in joint ownership and operation of broadcast stations in the same market, even when the stations are in separate services (i.e., radio-TV combinations). Among other benefits, these efficiencies often lead to improved programming and can help stations in financial difficulty remain on the air. The revised radio/TV cross-ownership rule we adopt today will establish clear guidelines that will permit common ownership of radio and television stations in markets where diversity and competition are preserved. 106. We will monitor the impact on the broadcast industry of this and other changes to our ownership rules being made today, as well as the changes to the television industry associated with the conversion to digital television and the increase in the number of media outlets available to the public. In light of these observations, we will have a further opportunity to consider relaxing the radio/TV cross-ownership rule as we evaluate ongoing changes in the television and radio markets in conjunction with future biennial reviews. 107. Turning to the specifics of the first two prongs of the new rule, we will use a "voice count" approach rather than also applying a market rank restriction as with our current top 25 market, 30 voice presumptive waiver policy. In particular, the first prong of our new rule, which permits a party to own up to two television stations (provided this is permitted under our modified TV duopoly rule or TV LMA grandfathering policy) and up to six radio stations (any combination of AM or FM stations, to the extent permitted under our local radio ownership rules) in any market with at least twenty independently owned media voices, focuses on the number of independent voices remaining in the market post-merger, rather than market rank (e.g., the top 100 markets). A rule based on the number of independent voices more accurately reflects the actual level of diversity and competition in the market. As a number of commenters in this proceeding noted, a market-size restriction is unnecessary for purposes of competition and diversity as long as there are a minimum number of independent sources of news and information available to listeners, and a minimum number of alternative outlets available to advertisers. Two broadcasters specifically urged us to allow TV/radio combinations as a matter of course in any market that satisfies a minimum independent voice test. In addition, unlike a rule based on market rank, our revised rule will account for changes in the number of voices in a market resulting from consolidation, the addition of new voices, or the loss of any outlets. Mergers will be permitted only when the voice count is satisfied, thereby ensuring the preservation of a minimum level of diversity and competition in the market. 108. In markets where the voice count component of our revised duopoly and radio/TV cross- ownership rule would allow parties to own two TV stations and six radio stations, for a total of eight outlets, we will also permit parties to own the same total number of outlets in the form of one TV station and seven radio stations. As we have explained above, broadcast television is the single most important source of news for the majority of Americans. We therefore believe that, in markets where there is sufficient competition and diversity to justify combinations involving two television stations and six radio stations, broadcasters should have the flexibility to purchase an additional radio station instead of a second television station. 109. The second prong of our new rule permits a party to own up to two television stations (provided this is permitted under our modified TV duopoly rule or TV LMA grandfathering policy) and up to four radio stations (any combination of AM or FM stations, to the extent permitted under our local radio ownership rules) in any market with at least ten independently owned media voices. This standard also focuses on the number of independent voices remaining in the market post-merger rather than market rank, and extends the benefits of common ownership to smaller markets. In this regard, our revised rule permits broadcasters and the public in these markets to realize the same benefits of common ownership we have concluded are worthwhile for the largest markets. 110. The third prong of our new rule will allow common ownership of up to two television stations (provided that is permissible under our rules or TV LMA grandfathering policy) and one radio station notwithstanding the number of independent voices in the market. Based on the record before us, we find that the service benefits and efficiencies achieved from the joint ownership and operation of a television/radio combination in local markets further the public interest and outweigh the cost to diversity in these instances. 111. Applying the Voice Count Tests. We will apply the voice test under both prongs of our new radio/TV cross-ownership rule that include such a test as follows: (1) We will count all independently owned and operating full-power commercial and noncommercial broadcast television stations licensed to a community in the DMA in which the community of license of the television station in question is located. (2) We will also count all independently owned and operating commercial and noncommercial broadcast radio stations licensed to a community within the radio metro market in which the community of license of the television station in question is located. In addition, we will count broadcast radio stations outside the radio metro market that Arbitron or another nationally-recognized audience rating service lists as having a reportable share in the metro market. In areas in which there is no radio metro market, the party seeking the waiver may count the radio stations present in an area that would be the functional equivalent of a radio market. (3) We will count all independently owned daily newspapers that are published in the DMA at issue and that have a circulation exceeding 5% of the households in the DMA. (4) We will count cable systems provided cable service is generally available to television households in the DMA. For DMAs in which cable service is generally available, cable will count as a single voice for purposes of our voice analysis, regardless of the number of cable systems within the DMA, their ownership, and any overlap in service area. 112. In counting broadcast television and radio stations as "voices" we are being consistent with the voice count analysis used in our current "top 25 market/30 voice" presumptive waiver standard. That standard, however, counts radio stations licensed to the relevant television metropolitan market. Under our new rule, we will instead use the radio metropolitan market, and will include both radio stations licensed within the radio metro market and stations with a reportable share in that market. We believe it is important to count radio stations with a reportable share in the relevant market because those stations clearly serve as a source of information and entertainment programming for the relevant market. We have chosen to use the radio metro market rather than the television metro market for counting the number of independent radio voices because the former more accurately reflect the competitive and core signal availability realities for radio service in the market. All independently owned radio stations in the radio market can be presumed to be available to residents of that market because of signal reach. Radio stations outside the radio metro market may also be presumed to be available to all residents of the radio market if Arbitron, or another nationally recognized audience rating service, lists them as having a reportable audience share in the radio metro. Reportable audience share information is not generally available for television metro markets. Thus, use of radio markets will ease the burden on applicants seeking approval of assignment and transfer applications, and on the Commission staff reviewing such applications. 113. As advocated by many commenters, we will also include in our voice count daily newspapers and cable systems because we believe that such media are an important source of news and information on issues of local concern and compete with radio and television, at least to some extent, as advertising outlets. Although we have not previously explicitly counted cable and newspapers as voices under our current top 25 market/30 voice presumptive waiver standard, we have counted these outlets in applying the case-by-case, five factor waiver standard. While we will count these media outlets in applying our amended rule, we will restrict the number of newspapers we will include and limit the weight we will ascribe to cable. Specifically, we will include all independently owned daily newspapers that are published in the DMA that have a circulation exceeding 5 percent of the households in the DMA. Our intent in this regard is to include those newspapers that are widely available throughout the DMA and that provide coverage of issues of interest to a sizeable percentage of the population. Although we recognize that other publications also provide a source of diversity and competition, many of these are only targeted to particular communities and are not accessible to, or relied upon by, the population throughout the local market. We will also include wired cable television in the DMA as one voice, since cable service is generally available to households throughout the U.S. We believe it is appropriate to include at least one voice for cable, where cable passes most of the homes in the market, because there are PEG and other channels on cable systems that present local informational and public affairs programming to the public. At this time we count cable as no more than one voice since most cable subscribers have only one cable system to choose from. In addition, despite a multiplicity of channels provided by each cable system, most programming is either originated or selected by the cable system operator, who thereby ultimately controls the content of such programming. As most cable programming available to a household is controlled by a single entity, we believe cable should be counted as a single voice in applying our voice test. 114. Various parties have urged the Commission to expand the types of media included as voices for competition and diversity purposes beyond those we have decided to include. Numerous such media have been urged upon us: DBS, wireless cable, OVS, the Internet, etc. We have not adopted such expansive proposals. DBS and wireless cable generally do not currently provide local news and public affairs programming. Moreover, we will not count any media that are not widely available within the com