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How the Looming Government Shutdown Would Affect the Media Industry

Sep 30, 2013  •  Post A Comment

With a potential federal government shutdown looming, anyone in the media industry who has business with the Federal Communications Commission could be affected, writes David Lieberman at Deadline.com.

"Most of the agency’s operations will be put on hold Tuesday unless lawmakers can agree on a spending bill for the fiscal year that begins October 1," he writes.

Lieberman adds: "An impasse would force the government to shut non-essential services, and that would hit the media industry hardest at the FCC. The agency said [Friday] that 98% of its 1,754 employees would be furloughed."

If a shutdown drags on, it could potentially lead to a postponement of the Oct. 15-29 window for applying for low-power FM radio licenses, and would lead to a work stoppage on the FCC’s approval of TV station deals, such as Gannett’s $1.5 billion acquisition of Belo, the story notes.

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