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 CONCURRING  STATEMENT  OF  COMMISSIONER  MICHAEL  J.  COPPS 
 Re:  Viacom  Inc. 
 I  concur  in  the  decision  to  adopt  this  settlement  agreement.  As  I  have  stated  about  previous  consent  decrees,  however,  I  am  concerned  about  the  effect  of  today’s  decision  on  the 
 Commission’s  license  renewal  process.  The  totality  of  a  broadcasters’  record  is  pertinent  and  should  be  considered  when  licenses  are  renewed.  Today’s  decision  takes  an  entire  part  of  the 
 record  off  the  table.  It  is  bad  enough  that  our  re-  licensing  process  has  degenerated  to  the  point  where  the  Commission  generally  does  not  even  look  at  a  station’s  public  file  or  inquire  further 
 into  the  station’s  service  to  its  community  unless  a  citizen  of  that  particular  community  brings  an  issue  to  our  attention.  Today,  the  Commission  tells  those  citizens  that  some  information  is  no 
 longer  relevant  in  evaluating  a  broadcaster’s  overall  performance  in  its  community. 
 I  would  also  sound  a  cautionary  note  that  the  Commission  has  gone  down  this  road  before  with  Infinity  Broadcasting  which  is  now  part  of  Viacom.  At  that  time,  the  Commission 
 praised  the  steps  Infinity  took  to  ensure  compliance  with  the  indecency  laws.  Yet,  today,  we  are  once  again  settling  numerous  indecency  complaints  against  Infinity  and  its  parent  company, 
 Viacom.  Going  forward,  I  urge  my  colleagues  to  accord  prompt  and  vigorous  attention  to  any  future  listener  or  viewer  complaints  against  this  licensee. 
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