The Supreme Court on Monday turned away several appeals from broadcast and newspaper groups that sought to restore new government rules easing restrictions on media ownership.

Without comment, the justices let stand a lower court ruling that threw out the looser Federal Communications Commission regulations as unjustified.

The agency must now try a second time to revise its former ownership rules, which the media groups say are inadequate to address the rapidly growing cable television, satellite broadcasting and Internet markets.

The proposed changes would have allowed a single company to own TV stations and a newspaper in the same area, and to own more TV and radio stations in a single market. But critics, including many in Congress, say that would encourage mergers and stifle diversity in news and entertainment.

Posted by: Jonathan Singer / 5:20 AM | Basie! Home