US | Sam Zell FCC May Ease Rules on Media Owners Would allow firms to own newspapers and TV stations in same city By Nick McMaster Posted Oct 18, 2007 6:22 AM CDT Copied Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin J. Martin, left, accompanied by commissioners Michael J. Copps, center, and Jonathan S. Adelstein, right. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) (Associated Press) FCC Chairman Kevin Martin wants to relax limits on media consolidation, starting with repealing the rule that a company cannot own a newspaper and television or radio station in the same city, the New York Times reports. The commission is split, with two Democrats opposed and three Republicans supporting, a majority that may be too fragile to change the rules. Martin has proposed an aggressive timetable for rolling back the 60-year-old rule—which previous FCC chief Michael Powell attempted to relax, only to lose to a court challenge three years ago—by the end of the year. “If the chairman intends to do something by the end of the year, then there will be a firestorm of protest," said one lawmaker. Read These Next Actor Michael Madsen is dead at 67. Soccer star Diogo Jota is killed in a car crash. Police shot a bank robber as a drone delivered some Faygo Red Pop. A teen pilot landed on his 7th continent and immediately got detained. Report an error