Re: Am I missing something here?

["Dan Billings" <billings@suscom-maine.net>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Aaron Read" <aread@speakeasy.net>
To: <boston-radio-interest@bostonradio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, June 04, 2003 10:15 AM
Subject: Re: Am I missing something here?

> I think it's because the new rules basically have the effect of locking
> everything down exactly where they are today.  IIRC, the only real change
> to the radio rules was that if a radio monopoly exists, and it's sold, it
> has to be broken up.  But if it's sold to women or minority buyers, the
> monopoly can still exist.
>
> The goal is to see more women and minority owners...a laudable goal, but
> something tells me that the big-boys will find some means of getting
around
> the rule.  Either by installing token minority members on their boards, or
> by creating front groups to "divest" the monopoly to.

Let's not throw around terms like monopoly so carelessly.  The anti-trust
laws still apply to broadcasting and have been used to stop some sales that
would have been allowed under FCC rules.

-- Dan Billings, Bowdoinham, Maine