TAMPA MEDIA OWNERSHIP FIELD HEARING
STATEMENT OF COMMISSIONER ROBERT M. MCDOWELL
Thank you for hosting us here in Tampa-St. Pete, the 12th largest media market in 
the country, as we continue our series of field hearings in our media ownership 
proceeding. In our three prior hearings, in Los Angeles, Nashville and Harrisburg, we 
have heard the perspectives of musicians, broadcasters, reporters, actors, writers, 
professors and hundreds of citizens.  I look forward to hearing from you this evening 
about how our ownership rules affect you as viewers, listeners, businesspeople and 
members of this community.   
The debate over broadcast ownership is concerns the vitality of our democracy 
and the appropriate balance among competitive efficiencies, diversity of voices and local 
focus.  I’ve learned quickly that this debate elicits the opinions and passions of people 
from all walks of life from all over our nation.  We need the first-hand knowledge that
only you can provide about the sources you rely upon for news, information and 
entertainment so that we can analyze today’s media marketplace and determine if and 
how our rules should change.  
To our panelists and audience members -- thank you for being here today and for 
participating in our hearing.  We value your input.