Final answer:
The FCC regulates media concentrations, preventing a single company's television stations from reaching more than 35% of U.S. viewers to maintain diversity and prevent monopolies. Following the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the FCC's role includes both regulating and monitoring media ownership.
Step-by-step explanation:
Limitations on media concentrations come in the form of regulations issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), an agency responsible for overseeing and regulating the airwaves. One of the most significant of these regulations includes a rule that prevents a single company's stations from reaching more than 35% of viewers.
The purpose of this regulation is to prevent media monopolies and ensure a diversity of viewpoints in the media landscape.
Following the Telecommunications Act of 1996, the restrictions have been somewhat relaxed, and the role of the FCC shifted from strictly regulating to also monitoring to prevent monopolistic control and address consumer complaints against various media and telecommunications entities.
Additionally, while there is no limit on the number of radio stations one can hold nationally, ownership rules for radio stations are more liberal than those for television, allowing for up to eight stations in a single market depending on the total number of stations serving that market.
However, within local markets, there are tighter restrictions to prevent a single company from dominating the media landscape and thus maintaining a competitive and diverse marketplace.