미국 연방통신위원회(FCC)의 신문·방송 겸영 허용 결정 검토

FCC changed newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rules on Dec. 18, 2007. FCC replaced the blanket ban on newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership with a rule that establishes clear presumptions as to the limited circumstances when FCC will presume a newspaper/broadcast transaction will be in the public interest and thus a waiver of the ban should be granted. The new rules adopt a presumption, in the top 20 Designated Market Areas ("DMAs"), that it is not inconsistent with the public interest for one entity to own a daily newspaper and a radio station or, under the following limited circumstances, a daily newspaper and a television station, if (1) the television station is not ranked among the top four stations in the DMA and (2) at least eight independent "major media voices" remain in the DMA. In all other instances, FCC adopt a presumption that a newspaper/broadcast station combination would not be in the public interest, with two limited exceptions, (1) a failed/failing station model and (2) a new source of a significant amount of local news in a market by a proposed combination. But, even if the changed rules were limited to the top 20 markets by a method of presumption, those would permit new cross-owned combinations from the largest markets down to the smallest markets. For many years, the underpinnings of FCC’s public interest analysis with regard to media have been to promote localism, competition, and diversity. Yet as a result of newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership, there is less local news in the market as a whole and there is less competition for stories and ideas since two competing entities become one. There is also less diversity, as a voice in the market is lost, and broadcast outlets are taken even further out of reach of minority such as women and people of color. Recently it is said that there will be a policy of Korean government which will take a step toward newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership as result of FCC's changed rule. However the perfect survey and research should be done and the particular situation of market in newspaper and broadcast in Korea before the change of rules or laws, not merely following the FCC's precedents. And media ownership regulation must strengthen the vital function the media plays in a democratic society: decreasing citizens' costs in monitoring government and maximize output of political news.