Prior to the 1996 Telecommunications Act, media companies were restricted from owning newspaper, television, and radio stations in the same market. After the act was passed and the caps on cross-media...

Prior to the 1996 Telecommunications Act, media companies were restricted from owning newspaper, television, and radio stations in the same market. After the act was passed and the caps on cross-media ownership were eliminated, there was a surge of media consolidation. Think about both the positive and the negative impacts of allowing one media company to own multiple media outlets in a community. What is the effect on media consumers? How does this help, or hurt, media businesses? How does this help, or hurt, advertisers?