Adam Thierer writes: "The radio industry is commonly cited by many media critics as a poster child for the supposed evils of media consolidation. While it is true that a large number of acquisitions took place in the radio market following relaxation of the radio ownership rules back in 1996, the reality is that the radio marketplace—properly defined—is very competitive and nowhere near being the “monopoly” that some critics claim. ..."
And also: Red Lion R.I.P.: FCC Declares the Scarcity Doctrine Dead. "'[T]he Scarcity Rationale for regulating traditional broadcasting is no longer valid.' So begins a stunning new white paper from the Federal Communications Commission. In the paper, 'The Scarcity Rationale for Regulating Traditional Broadcasting: An Idea Whose Time Has Passed,' author John Beresford, an attorney with the FCC’s Media Bureau, lays out a devistating case against the Scarcity Rationale, which has governed spectrum & broadcast regulation in the United States for over seven decades. ¶ Calling the Scarcity Rationale 'outmoded' and 'based on fundamental misunderstandings of physics and economics,' Beresford goes on to show why just about everything the FCC every justified on this basis was misguided and unjust. ..." Link for both articles: The Technology Liberation Front weblog. NB: Can't find a permalink, so if you're reading this well after the posting date, it may have moved. --Dennis
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