NEWS
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street, S.W.
Washington, D. C.  20554
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.
See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974).
News Media Information 202 / 418-0500
Internet: http://www.fcc.gov
TTY: 1-888-835-5322
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
November 16, 2012 Erin McGrath (202) 418-2042
STATEMENT OF FCC COMMISSIONER ROBERT M. McDOWELL 
ON THE MEDIA BUREAU ORDER GRANTING THE TRIBUNE APPLICATIONS 
AND WAIVERS OF THE NEWSPAPER-BROADCAST CROSS-OWNERSHIP RULE
The following statement can be attributed to Commissioner Robert M. McDowell:
“I am pleased that the long-standing Tribune matter is moving forward. The Media Bureau is 
correct to reinstate Tribune’s waivers of the obsolete newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership ban.
The outdated ban itself should be eliminated because the record indicates that it is likely 
undermining the public interest on several levels. Furthermore, the ban is more than likely an 
unconstitutional limitation on speech by restricting speakers’ access only to those platforms 
favored by the government. If this encroachment on First Amendment rights ever made sense in 
1975 when it was codified, it no longer does in the face of today’s highly competitive, dynamic 
and fragmented media marketplace. Accordingly, no rules should exist to which waivers need to 
be granted. In that spirit, while such rules still reside on our books, the Commission should grant 
waivers permanently and not in miniscule one-year segments that require speakers to crawl back 
to the government for permission to speak. I look forward to working further with my 
colleagues on this important matter in the recently circulated media ownership order.”