Washington, DC -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today led a group of six other House Democrats in formally calling on Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Kevin J. Martin to clearly outline the details of ten economic studies on media ownership that the agency recently commissioned.  On November 22, the FCC announced the studies, which are coming at a time when the agency is reviewing the agency's media ownership rules.  Concerned that the FCC may have setup the studies in a non-neutral manner to advance its goal of media consolidation, Hinchey and his colleagues called on the agency to provide them with all details regarding the studies.

"We write to request detailed information on the Federal Communications Commission's plans regarding recently-announced studies to be conducted as part of the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on media ownership," Hinchey and his House colleagues wrote to Martin. "We are certainly pleased to see that the Commission is moving forward with these studies.  However, we are concerned about the lack of information that has been released thus far regarding these endeavors."

The ten FCC-commissioned studies are focused on: 1) How People Get News and Information; 2) Ownership Structure and Robustness of Media; 3) Effect of Ownership Structure and Robustness on the Quantity and Quality of TV Programming; 4) News Operations; 5) Station Ownership and Programming in Radio; 6) News Coverage of Cross-Owned Newspapers and Television Stations; 7 & 8) Minority Ownership; 9) Vertical Integration; 10) Radio Industry Review: Trends in Ownership, Format, and Finance. 

Among other things, Hinchey and his six House colleagues are seeking answers from the FCC regarding: how the topics were selected; the backgrounds of the authors assigned to each of the studies; whether the agency took appropriate steps to prevent any conflicts of interests that could impact the outcome of the studies; the cost of the studies; and how the peer review process for the studies will work. 

In 2003, with a Bush-appointed chairman, the FCC sought to further weaken local TV ownership limits, national TV ownership caps, and newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership rules.  If those rules had been enacted, a single corporation would have been allowed to acquire as many as three television stations, eight radio stations, and the only daily newspaper in a single media market.  The Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals agreed that the FCC was overstepping its bounds, rejected the new rules, and remanded the issue back to the Commission, which is now reviewing the rules once again.  The Court also criticized the FCC for failing to disclose parts of the new rules for public comment.

Hinchey is the founder and chairman of the Future of American Media Caucus in Congress.  The Caucus, which currently has 20 Members, is open to members of both parties and it neither supports nor opposes any particular industry stakeholder.  The FAM Caucus' goal is to educate members and staff about media issues before Congress and to ensure that all parties - especially the American public - have a chance to participate in the vital debate over media policy.  Hinchey is also the author of the Media Ownership Reform Act, which would restore fairness in broadcasting, reduce media concentration, ensure that broadcasters meet their public interest requirements, and promote diversity, localism, and competition in American media.  

Joining Hinchey in sending the letter today to Martin were six FAM Caucus members: Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Congressman Peter DeFazio (D-OR),  Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Congressman Jim McDermott (D-WA), Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (D-NY), and Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).

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The full text of the letter that Hinchey and his six House colleagues sent to Martin follows:

December 11, 2006

The Honorable Kevin J. Martin

Federal Communications Commission

445 12th Street SW

Washington, DC 20554

Dear Chairman Martin:

We write to request detailed information on the Federal Communications Commission's plans regarding recently-announced studies to be conducted as part of the Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on media ownership.  We are certainly pleased to see that the Commission is moving forward with these studies.  However, we are concerned about the lack of information that has been released thus far regarding these endeavors.  Therefore, we would greatly appreciate your answers to the following questions:

1. How were each of the ten topics for study selected?

2. What are the backgrounds of the authors assigned to these studies?  Please provide citations of peer-reviewed work conducted by the authors that demonstrates expertise on their assigned topic.  Please include descriptions that describe in detail why the results or methodology of this work make the authors suited to performing their assigned studies.

3. Has the FCC taken appropriate steps to ensure against conflicts of interest that could impact study results?

4. Were those conducting the studies given further instruction in addition to the assignment of their respective topics?  If so, what were the instructions given to each participant?

5. How much money is being spent on each study?  How much money is being spent on any databases purchased for one study or for multiple studies?

6. What internal and external resources will be made available for those conducting the studies?

7. What timeline is envisioned for each study?

8. What kind of peer review process is envisioned for each study?

Thank you for your prompt consideration of our request.  We look forward to your reply. 

                                                                                                               Sincerely,