WASHINGTON, D.C.—One of the many topics before the FCC currently is the idea of relaxing the ownership subcaps that govern how many AM and FM stations the same company can own within a market.

Womble Bond Dickinson telecom attorney John Garziglia discussed the pros and cons of subcap deregulation with Communications Daily. While some have categorized relaxing the subcap rules as a change necessary to compete with digital media, Garziglia said there also are concerns within the industry.

He tells Communications Daily that "some broadcasters worry that changes to the subcaps could lead to too much consolidation, threatening localism and bringing the advertising prices down for the industry." As a result of this split opinion, the National Association of Broadcasters has yet to stake out a position on subcap deregulation.

Click here to read "Radio Industry Conflicted Over Subcaps" in Communications Daily (subscription required).

Also, click here to read Garziglia's thoughts on the recent Low-Power FM challenge to the FCC's FM translator application process.

John Garziglia represents radio and television broadcasters, offering personalized assistance in all areas of communications and telecommunications law including transactional and contract negotiations for broadcast station mergers and acquisitions, the securing of financing, governmental auctions of new frequencies, license renewals, new stations applications, facility changes, facility upgrades, licensing, and compliance with FCC rules, regulations and policies. 

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