OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
September 27,2010
The Honorable Olympia 1. Snowe
United States Senate
154 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Snowe:
Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's 2010 Quadrennial Review of its
broadcast ownership rules and policies. I appreciate knowing ofyour view that the past two
Commission Reviews lacked proper foundations for their final conclusions and failed to provide
processes that permitted sufficient public participation.
The 2010 Review process currently is underway and has been designed to be inclusive,
transparent, and data-driven. During the past year, the Commission sponsored eight public
workshops across the nation to encourage public discussion and create a framework for the 2010
Review's Notice ofInquiry (NOI). The NOI itself provided 30 days for comments and 45 days
for reply comments. Now that the comment period is closed, the Commission's staffis
reviewing these submissions and available data to develop a comprehensive record.
Last week, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government granted the Commission's reprogramming request to provide an additional
$1,000,000 for studies and data collection related to local media markets and how their structures
affect the quantity, usage, and development ofmedia content. These funds will permit the
Commission to focus on a relevant performance metric regarding one or more ofthe goals of
competition, localism, and diversity. The completed studies will be subject to peer review and
made available for public comment prior to inclusion in the 2010 Quadrennial Review.
The challenge inherent in completing the 2010 Review is to make broadcast ownership
rules consistent with today's teclmology and media marketplace, while protecting and promoting
core public interest policies. Competition, localism, and diversity remain as relevant today as
when Congress established them in the Communications Act of 1934. The Commission's
broadcast ownership rules and policies need to promote these values in the context ofactual
market conditions, and I am committed to ensuring that the 2010 Review reflects this goal.
The Honorable Olympia 1. Snowe Page -2-
Your letter will be made part ofthe record in the 20 I0 Quadrennial Review proceeding
and given careful consideration as the Commission finalizes this matter. If I can be offurther
assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Julius Genachowski
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
September 27,2010
The Honorable Maria Cantwell
United States Senate
511 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Cantwell:
Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's 2010 Quadrennial Review of its
broadcast ownership rules and policies. I appreciate knowing of your view that the past two
Commission Reviews lacked proper foundations for their final conclusions and failed to provide
processes that permitted sufficient public participation.
The 2010 Review process currently is underway and has been designed to be inclusive,
transparent, and data-driven. During the past year, the Commission sponsored eight public
workshops across the nation to encourage public discussion and create a framework for the 20 I0
Review's Notice ofInquiry (NOI). The NOI itself provided 30 days for comments and 45 days
for reply comments. Now that the comment period is closed, the Commission's staffis
reviewing these submissions and available data to develop a comprehensive record.
Last week, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government granted the Commission's reprogramming request to provide an additional
$1,000,000 for studies and data collection related to local media markets and how their structures
affect the quantity, usage, and development of media content. These funds will permit the
Commission to focus on a relevant performance metric regarding one or more ofthe goals of
competition, localism, and diversity. The completed studies will be subject to peer review and
made available for public comment prior to inclusion in the 2010 Quadrennial Review.
The challenge inherent in completing the 2010 Review is to make broadcast ownership
rules consistent with today's technology and media marketplace, while protecting and promoting
core public interest policies. Competition, localism, and diversity remain as relevant today as
when Congress established them in the Communications Act of 1934. The Commission's
broadcast ownership rules and policies need to promote these values in the context of actual
market conditions, and I am committed to ensuring that the 2010 Review reflects this goal.
The Honorable Maria Cantwell
Page -2-
Your letter will be made part ofthe record in the 2010 Quadrennial Review proceeding
and given careful consideration as the Commission finalizes this matter. If I can be offurther
assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Julius Genachowski
OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON
September 27,2010
The Honorable Byron L. Dorgan
United States Senate
322 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Dorgan:
Thank you for your letter regarding the Commission's 2010 Quadrennial Review of its
broadcast ownership rules and policies. I appreciate knowing of your view that the past two
Commission Reviews lacked proper foundations for their final conclusions and failed to provide
processes that permitted sufficient public participation.
The 2010 Review process currently is underway and has been designed to be inclusive,
transparent, and data-driven. During the past year, the Commission sponsored eight public
workshops across the nation to encourage public discussion and create a framework for the 2010
Review's Notice ofInquiry (NOl). The NOI itself provided 30 days for comments and 45 days
for reply comments. Now that the comment period is closed, the Commission's staff is
reviewing these submissions and available data to develop a comprehensive record.
Last week, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General
Government granted the Commission's reprogramming request to provide an additional
$1,000,000 for studies and data collection related to local media markets and how their structures
affect the quantity, usage, and development of media content. These funds will permit the
Commission to focus on a relevant performance metric regarding one or more of the goals of
competition, localism, and diversity. The completed studies will be subject to peer review and
made available for public comment prior to inclusion in the 2010 Quadrennial Review.
The challenge inherent in completing the 2010 Review is to make broadcast ownership
rules consistent with today's technology and media marketplace, while protecting and promoting
core public interest policies. Competition, localism, and diversity remain as relevant today as
when Congress established them in the Communications Act of 1934. The Commission's
broadcast ownership rules and policies need to promote these values in the context of actual
market conditions, and I am committed to ensuring that the 2010 Review reflects this goal.
The Honorable Byron L. Dorgan Page -2-
Your letter will be made part of the record in the 2010 Quadrennial Review proceeding
and given careful consideration as the Commission finalizes this matter. IfI can be of further
assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.