A One-Page, Easy-to-Read

Summary of the FCC Radio Ownership Rules

By

Erwin G. Krasnow, Esq.

Garvey Schubert Barer

ekrasnow@gsblaw.com

Limits on Local Radio Ownership

• In markets with 45 or more radio stations, a company may own 8 stations, not more than 5 of which may be in one class, AM or FM. 
• In markets with 30-44 radio stations, a company may own 7 stations, not more than 4 of which may be in one class, AM or FM.
• In markets with 15-29 radio stations, a company may own 6 stations, not more than 4 of which may be in one class, AM or FM.
• In markets with 14 or fewer radio stations, a company may own 5 stations, not more than 3 of which may be in one class, AM or FM.  A company may not own more than 50% of the total number of radio stations in the same market.

Arbitron and Contour-Overlap “Market” Definitions

• All radio stations licensed to communities in an Arbitron market are counted in the market as well as stations licensed to other markets but considered “home” to the market.
• For non-Arbitron markets, the FCC will apply a modified signal contour method for counting the number of stations in the market.  The local radio market is defined by the area of common overlap between the principal community contour of the target station and the principal community contour of any other radio station owned by the acquiring entity.  The local radio market encompasses only the area of common overlap between these stations.
• In using the contour-overlap market definition, the FCC will exclude from the market any radio station whose transmitter site is more than 92 kilometers (58 miles) from the perimeter of the mutual overlap area.
• Both commercial and noncommercial stations are counted in the market.
• Brokered stations will be attributed to brokering stations if the stations execute a local marketing agreement or a joint sales agreement.