Archives: Media Ownership

Responding to demands from key members of the House and Senate, FCC Chairman Kevin Martin has ordered the agency’s inspector general to investigate why and how a pair of critical internal studies on the impact of media ownership was suppressed. 

On Sept. 13th, Sen. Barbara Boxer asked the FCC to investigate why a report showing locally owned television stations produce more local news than chain-owned stations was reportedly buried by the agency. Here is Boxer’s letter (PDF) to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin, followed by Martin’s response (PDF) On September 18th Boxer released a statement about a possible second suppressed report on radio ownership at the FCC. Here is Martin’s response to that letter, in which he says he has requested an investigation by the inspector general of the FCC.

Rep. John Dingell and Rep. Edward Markey sent letter (PDF) to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin after press reports that agency personnel were ordered to destroy study about local news. Study showed locally-owned stations produced more local news, which undercut arguments for loosening of media ownership rules by media companies and former FCC Chairman Michael Powell.

Consumer groups also called on the FCC's Chairman Kevin Martin to seek an independent investigation about the reported suppression of an FCC study that strongly suggested FCC's rules allowing greater media consolidation would likely mean less local news coverage.