The Minority Media and Telecommunications Council media ownership...

Chairman Julius Genachowski paused a vote on a draft bureau media ownership order to allow MMTC to conduct the study of cross ownership on minority-owned broadcasters (CD Feb 27 p1). Policy Director Matt Wood said Free Press has “serious concerns” about the study, which he characterized as consisting of “interviews with former and current broadcast station principals and executives.” Wood told us Friday that this kind of “qualitative study” won’t provide data showing the economic impact of consolidated media ownership on smaller businesses and minority owners. “It’s nice to see MMTC volunteering to take this on, but it’s not necessarily the kind of research,” requested by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in its decision on the FCC’s media ownership rules, he said. MMTC President David Honig said in an email Friday that Free Press had been involved in the design process for the study, and that the council had adopted all of Free Press’s suggestions at the time. “So it’s puzzling why they would be critical of our study even before it’s been completed and published,” said Honig. Wood agreed that his organization had been involved, but said that it still preferred a quantitative study to meet the court’s requirements. “When science is being done, an open mind is helpful,” said Honig. MMTC has said the study will be submitted to the FCC May 29 (CD May 3 p12).