McDowell at FCC Media Ownership and Diversity Workshop

Speaking at the Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau Workshop on Media Ownership & Diversity, Commissioner Robert McDowell warned that changes in FCC ownership rules alone won't achieve much if the intended beneficiaries can't obtain the financing they need to make their aspirations a reality.

He'd like to see the FCC help Congress fashion a legally sustainable tax certificate program to promote ownership of communications companies by economically disadvantaged businesses. he wonders if the economic downturn and the trend of large broadcast ownership groups to "de-consolidate" may provide opportunities for new ownership.