STATEMENT OF
COMMISSIONER ROBERT M. McDOWELL
Re:  Policies to Promote Rural Radio Service and to Streamline Allotment and Assignment 
Procedures, MB Docket No. 09-52
It has been more than a decade since the Commission last considered rules that seek to
balance our statutory obligation to implement “fair, efficient, and equitable distribution of radio 
service” under Section 307(b) of the Communications Act with our statutory obligation to award 
licenses through competitive bidding.  That period of time has afforded the Commission 
considerable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the current regulations.  Although I do 
not necessarily agree with all of the tentative conclusions associated with the questions set forth 
in this Notice, I appreciate the flexibility afforded me in the editing process.  I thank the staff for 
its hard work at making a complex subject comprehensible, and I will review with interest 
comments we receive on the many issues that the item raises.