Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and six members of his Future of American Media Caucus (FAM) share concerns with the FCC's Democratic commissioners about the FCC's ten-part study of media ownership issues and they've fired off a letter to FCC Chair Kevin Martin with questions. Commissioners Michael Copps and Jonathan Adelstein both wondered why the studies were announced during the media fog just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, with scant detail as to their scope and as to how the report's producers were selected. The FAM letter says, "We are certainly pleased to see that the Commission is moving forward with these studies. However, we are concerned about the lack of information that has been released thus far regarding these endeavors." Hinchey's primary concern is that the studies are structured by the FCC in a "...non-neutral manner to advance its goal of media consolidation." Hinchey is joined in his quest by Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Jim McDermott (D-WA), Louise Slaughter (D-NY) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).
FAM's questions for Martin
1. How were each of the ten topics for study selected?
2. What are the backgrounds of the authors assigned to these studies? Please provide citations of peer-reviewed work conducted by the authors that demonstrates expertise on their assigned topic. Please include descriptions that describe in detail why the results or methodology of this work make the authors suited to performing their assigned studies.
3. Has the FCC taken appropriate steps to ensure against conflicts of interest that could impact study results?
4. Were those conducting the studies given further instruction in addition to the assignment of their respective topics? If so, what were the instructions given to each participant?
5. How much money is being spent on each study? How much money is being spent on any databases purchased for one study or for multiple studies?
6. What internal and external resources will be made available for those conducting the studies?
7. What timeline is envisioned for each study?
8. What kind of peer review process is envisioned for each study?
