Since 1992 radio stations have been prohibited from devoting more than 25 percent of total hours per week to programs that duplicate any other station in the market. The goal of the rule was to promote competition and program diversity. The FCC acknowledges that since the adoption of that rule, 25 years ago, the radio industry has changed, with many more programming options on thousands of new stations.
A Notice of Proposed Rulemaking has been drafted by The Commission that would do the following:
- Ask whether the radio duplication rule remains necessary to foster competition and program diversity in light of significant changes to the radio broadcast industry since the current rule was adopted in 1992.
- Seek comment on whether the radio duplication rule remains necessary to promote spectrum efficiency, or whether current demands for spectrum now push radio broadcasters to maximize efficiency and supply varied programming to the local market.
- Seek comment on whether the rule should be modified or eliminated based on the changes that have occurred since adoption of the rule.
- Seek comment on whether and how the rule should be modified to reflect the current radio market if the Commission determines that the radio duplication rule should be retained.
- Ask whether the rule should only apply to the FM band.
- Ask whether the 25 percent of total programming hours threshold should be raised or lowered.
- Ask whether the 50 percent overlap requirement should be raised or lowered.
The Commission is now taking comments on the proposed rule. You can read up on the 13-page proposal from the FCC HERE.
