It’s
shameful that after months of taxpayer-funded research, the Federal
Communications Commission still lacks the basic understanding of which
stations are actually owned by women and people of color.

Consumer groups yesterday exposed how the FCC’s official media ownership research failed to account for the majority of the female- and minority-owned broadcast stations.

“The Commission has no hope of conducting meaningful policy analysis using such inaccurate and incomplete information,” said Mark Cooper, director of research at the Consumer Federation of America.

The FCC was ordered to address minority ownership issues as part of the landmark 2004 Prometheus v. FCC decision. In August, after nearly a year of inaction on the issue, Chairman Martin asked for public comment on a series of proposals on minority media ownership. However, the public was given just a narrow, two-month window — ending Oct. 1 — to weigh in on the complex proposals.

“In the rush to push forward its pro-consolidation
agenda, the FCC did not give the critical issue of female and minority
ownership the careful consideration it deserves,” said Ben Scott, policy director of Free Press. “We should be focused on getting it right, not racing to the finish line.

Studies from Free Press — Out of the Picture and Off the Dial
— reveal the alarming state of female and minority ownership. While
women make up 51 percent of the entire U.S. population, they own less
than 6 percent of all full-power radio and TV stations. People of color
make up 33 percent of the entire U.S. population, yet own 7.2 percent
of the broadcast stations.

“Any policy changes that increase media concentration
will unambiguously cause a further decline in female and minority
ownership,” said S. Derek Turner, research director of Free Press and author of the two studies. “The FCC should be considering polices that roll back consolidation — not increase it.”

FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein
has called for an independent, nonpartisan task force to address the
minority media ownership crisis. The task force has been endorsed by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) and Rep. Hilda Solis (D-Calif.), as well as Rainbow PUSH Founder Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.

“The lack of minority broadcast owners is one of the most important civil rights issues of our time,” said Rev. Jackson in a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.

The FCC needs halt its march towards consolidation and concentrate on the media diversity crisis.

Read the comments filed by consumer groups.