NEWS Federal Communications Commission 445 12th Street, S.W. Washington, D. C. 20554 This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action. Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action. See MCI v. FCC. 515 F 2d 385 (D.C. Circ 1974). News Media Information 202 / 418-0500 Internet: http://www.fcc.gov TTY: 1-888-835-5322 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 31, 2007 JOINT STATEMENT BY FCC COMMISSIONERS MICHAEL J. COPPS AND JONATHAN S. ADELSTEIN ON RELEASE OF MEDIA OWNERSHIP STUDIES Just when we hoped an open media ownership process was developing here at the FCC, along comes this bucket of ice water. These are ten supposedly serious studies put together by teams of economists and analysts over an eight month period. One study alone contains over 13 million data points. Yet the Commission expects the public to analyze all ten studies, and reams of underlying data, and file comments 60 days from today! This is unfair, unnecessary, and ultimately unwise – inviting public, Congressional, and judicial outrage reminiscent of what happened when the FCC tried to loosen media ownership rules four years ago. We are told that all of the studies released today will undergo peer review, but many questions are left unanswered. How will the reviewers be selected? How long will they have to conduct their reviews? Will the public have ample time to examine the reviews before the comment cycle ends? Is this peer review – or just a brief purview? The Commission’s action today does not inspire confidence that this time around we are serious about getting it right. - FCC - NEWS MEDIA CONTACT: Rick Chessen : (202) 418-2000 e-mail : rick.chessen@fcc.gov Rudy Brioché: (202) 418-2300 e-mail: rudy.brioche@fcc.gov