The Federal Communications Commission's Democratic majority has voted to preserve TV and radio station ownership restrictions, including a ban on owning both a daily newspaper and a nearby broadcast station, according to people familiar with the vote.
The proposals were offered by Democratic Chairman Tom Wheeler last month after a court chastised the agency for inaction on media rules. Approval by his two fellow Democrats by remote electronic voting gives the measure enough support to pass once all five commissioners have weighed in.
Wheeler's proposal won votes Monday from both of the other Democrats on the five-member agency, said an official familiar who spoke on condition of anonymity because the matter hasn't been made public. Kim Hart, an FCC spokesman, declined to comment.
The votes came one day ahead of a congressional hearing, where Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., said he'd been told the "commission majority" had voted on the media ownership rules. Walden didn't offer details.
Read Thursday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.