Bush Opposes Vote on FCC - Media Consolidation WILL GO AHEAD
 

WASHINGTON, July 24 (Reuters) - The White House said on Thursday it would fight in Congress to strip out language in a bill that would prevent television broadcasters from owning local stations that collectively reach more than 35 percent of the national audience.

The Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission on June 2 voted to raise that cap to 45 percent, but the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday approved an annual spending measure that included a provision rolling it back to 35 percent.

The Bush administration said it would try to strip out the provision when House and Senate leaders negotiate the final version of the spending bill. But there is also bipartisan support for the lower limit in the Senate.

http://reuters.com/financeNewsArticl...toryID=3152510

Bush opposes the vote but will not veto it. The rollback to 35% will most likely stand.

"Because of the provision, the White House has threatened to veto the $37.9 billion spending bill which includes annual funding for the FCC as well as the Commerce, Justice and State Departments"