FCC to Launch Wide-Ranging NOI on Media Ownership Regs

Proposed inquiry currently being vetted by commissioners

By John Eggerton -- Broadcasting & Cable, 4/16/2010 2:54:23 PM

Look for the FCC soon to launch a wide-ranging notice of inquiry (NOI) on media ownership regulations.

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski signaled as much in a Senate Commerce Committee hearing Thursday (April 15), and sources confirm the proposed inquiry is currently being vetted by the FCC commissioners.

The NOI is described as broad and extensive--a 35-page document--that tees up different ways to measure ownership, including by looking at how the FCC has dealt with diversity and competition and localism in the past.

It also notes that there are separate localism, diversity and future of journalism proceedings going on at the same time, said a source, and instructs commenters in those proceedings that if they file in this proceeding "make the connection to ownership structure."

The inquiry is part of the FCC's congressionally-mandated quadrennial review of its ownership regulations. "At this point, it looks like they have asked lots and lots of questions from lots and lots of perspectives," said an FCC source who has read parts of the document. "What I have read so far is reasonably neutral and balanced."