House Energy & Commerce Committee staffer Andrew Levin is getting backing from members of both parties for the FCC seat left vacant by Gloria Tristani's departure. In a joint letter, Committee Chairman Billy Tauzin (R-LA), ranking minority member John Dingell (D- MI), Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) and Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA) asked Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) and Minority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) to join in backing Levin. President Bush must nominate a Democrat to the seat, since the five-member FCC already has three Republicans.
What do you do when two guys in blue shorts and white polo shorts pound on your door and accuse you of running an illegal radio station? You ask them for a warrant, which is exactly what Sparky did (not his real name). He then told them, "I've watched enough TV for the last 20 years to know not to let a federal agent in without a warrant."
"They all laughed, the agents were not bad guys, they were reasonably friendly guys, they were polite" says Monk, the driving force behind Boulder Free Radio's, KBFR. (visit story link for more)
XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc. and rival Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. received conditional approval yesterday to use land-based transmitters to augment their planned nationwide radio service. The companies needed FCC approval to use high-powered radio transmitters, known as repeaters, to send their signals to hard-to-reach spots, including under bridges or in cities where tall buildings may block transmissions. The FCC approved the use of the radio transmitters under the condition that XM and Sirius cease operations if they interfered with wireless communications services. Acknowledging that the transmitters could cause interference, the FCC said the issue would be addressed further during the final approval process. In the approval, the agency said the transmission towers are in the public interest and "will offer high quality radio signals."
The commission's review of its broadcast/newspaper cross ownership rules could lead to a loosening or even elimination of the rule prohibiting ownership of a broadcast station and newspaper in the same market. The FCC is inviting comment on a series of proposals, including whether it should establish a "voice count" standard, which would permit combinations as long as a certain number of independently owned media "voices" remained in a market. Another possible result could be the establishment of a "market concentration" standard, which would allow combinations as long as the total market share didn't exceed a certain level. The FCC is also asking for input on what effect media-ownership diversity has on a market and what impact new media outlets like the Internet have on news sources for consumers.
The rumors became reality today as the FCC announced the creation of the Media Bureau, to be led by current cable bureau chief Ken Feeree. Within the new bureau will be the Office of Broadcast License Policy, under which the radio-regulating Audio Division will fall. This new division, to be headed by current Mass Media Bureau Chief Roy Stewart, will handle all station-licensing functions for the new bureau. The announcement was made at this morning's FCC meeting by Mary Beth Richards, Special Counsel to Chairman Michael Powell. Powell appointed Richards to lead an FCC reform effort shortly after he was named chairman.
Wilson Predicts Large (radio) Groups Will Invest In Newspapers. That's if the FCC loosens its controversial newspaper cross-ownership rules this fall. Citadel CEO Larry Wilson said that smaller radio groups probably won't be able to stomach the uncontrollable price hikes for newsprint, but such larger operations as Clear Channel and Viacom might be willing to mix radio, TV, billboard and newspaper advertising...
The Rocky Mountain News reports that Clear Channel Entertainment - the division in charge of concert promotion - is the subject of a "low-profile probe" by the Justice Dept. for possible antitrust violations. New Jersey congressman Robert Andrews requested an investigation in July, the paper says, but DOJ attorneys have been questioning potential witnesses for several months. And while Clear Channel Entertainment spokesperson Rachel Gary told the paper that the company was not aware that there was an ongoing investigation, a "highly placed Clear Channel source" said that the DOJ has had an ongoing, open file on the company. Denver concert promoter Nobody In Particular Presents filed suit against Clear Channel last month, alleging anticompetitive practices.