In the US the Media Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has
released 12 empirical studies examining the current state of the media marketplace, including how
consumers use the media, how advertisers view the different media outlets, and how media ownership
affects diversity, localism and competition.

The FCC is seeking comment on these studies as part of the
third Biennial Regulatory Review of Broadcast Ownership Rules, which was launched on September 12,
2002. At that time, the FCC said the objective of the Biennial Review is to develop ownership rules and
policies that reflect the current media marketplace, are based on empirical evidence, and are analytically
consistent.

Last November the FCC Chairman created the Media Ownership Working Group
(MOWG) to study the media marketplace and improve the FCC’s knowledge base and ability to make
informed media policy decisions. The Group commissioned a series of studies by external and internal
experts.

Chairman Powell said, “This effort is the most comprehensive look at media ownership
regulation ever … As the courts have made clear, it is critical that the FCC has a
solid factual base to support its media ownership rules.”

The full text of the studies is available on the FCC web page (www.fcc.gov) under Headlines or at www.fcc.gov/ownership.