FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
April 5, 2012
,JULIUS GENACHOWSKI
CHAIRMAN
The Honorable Maria Cantwell
United States Senate
511 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Cantwell:
Thank you for your letter encouraging the Commission to consider holding a field
hearing in Seattle as part of its current Quadrennial Review ofmedia ownership rules. I agree
about the importance ofpublic participation in this proceeding, and will ensure that your letter is
included in the record ofthe proceeding.
The Commission has undertaken considerable public outreach in connection with this
proceeding. In the lead-up to the 20iO Quadrennial Review Notice o/inquiry, Commission staff
held a series ofpublic workshops, including workshops in California, Florida, and South
Carolina. The data and information gathered from those workshops helped establish a
foundation for the tentative conclusions drawn in the Notice 0/Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM).
Outreach efforts so far have resulted in more than 100 comments and replies submitted for the
record. Ifthe Commission considers scheduling any addition public workshops or hearings, we
will certainly consider Seattle.
Fundamental to the Commission's review is a concern that you also express  
understanding the effect of market and regulatory changes on ownership by women and
members of minority groups. A workshop on January 27, 2010 specifically examined how the
media ownership rules affect diversity issues, including the goal ofpromoting female and
minority ownership. The NPRMexpressly targets inquiries into the effect of its proposals on
these groups.
I appreciate your thoughts on this matter. Please let me know if I can be ofany further
assistance.
Si~
Julius Genachowski
445 12TH 5TREET S.W. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 • 202-418-1000