Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold On the Future of Music Coalition’s “False Premises, False Promises” Report December 13, 2006 I commend the Future of Music Coalition for compiling this important report on how concentration in the radio industry is affecting radio’s diversity, creativity and local content. This report points to the need for action by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which to date has been more interested in serving corporate than public interests. Since the relaxation of the media ownership rules in 1996, there has been a significant decline in the number of radio station owners nationally, an increase in the size of the large radio station groups and, at a local level, a decrease in the number of radio station owners. Yet, in recent years, the FCC has shown little interest in tracking these dramatic changes or assessing their impact. In fact, my colleague Senator Barbara Boxer recently brought to light an order by the FCC to destroy reports on media ownership that were already commissioned. A majority of the FCC’s members seem uninterested in conducting proper oversight and having a real debate on media consolidation. The FCC has gone so far as to cancel reports that would call attention to the flawed rationale behind allowing further media consolidation, while at the same time proposing further weakening of the media ownership rules. Despite the flourishing of new and exciting media, such as the Internet, radio still has an important role to play and a duty to serve the public interest. I will continue working with the Future of Music Coalition and others to make sure that there is more transparency in the FCC and that we fix the damage that has been done to our public airwaves.

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