Pursuant to the ongoing duscussions about media ownership in this
forum:

AllAccess.Com is reporting that Senator Barbara Boxer (D-Ca) has
called for an investigation of FCC after a second report on media
ownership the FCC is supposed to have suppressed has come into her
possession.

She's reported that while the number of radio stations between
March of '96 and March of '03 has risen nearly 6%, the number of owners
had decreased 35%.

She's called on Chairman to release the unfinalized report, and
comment.

Boxer also noted that no ownership report has been finalized since
2002, while FCC ongoing agendae dealing with ownership would have found
these studies relevant.


Meanwhile, back at the ranch:


AllAccess.Com also reports FCC has extended the comment period for
its ownership rules review. Comments are now due OCTOBER 23 and replies
are due DECEMBER 21. The additional month comes after ION MEDIA NETWORKS
and FREE PRESS filed motions to extend the comment dates.


While I don't believe, as many do, that FCC has been bought and
paid for, these stories suggest that there is a smell test long overdue
on 12th Street SW.

Former Chairman Michael Powell claims not to have seen the draft
reports in question. Despite the fact that they were commissioned and
subsequently ordered destroyed during his tenure.


BTW, the draft study to which Boxer refers is available for download:


http://www.fcc.gov/