Consumer Groups Lodge Complaint About FCC Studies

CONSUMER GROUP LODGE COMPLAINT ABOUT FCC STUDIES
[SOURCE: Broadcasting&Cable, AUTHOR: John Eggerton]
In a filing with the FCC, Free Press, Consumers Union and Consumer Federation of America say that the Federal Communications Commission's peer reviews of ten media ownership studies that are part of its ongoing review of ownership rules were insufficient and tardy. They have asked for additional peer reviews and additional time to study the studies. The groups argue that the studies violate the Data Quality Act because they cannot be reproduced and the peer review does not pass muster, and that they violate OMB guidelines because the peer review was not released prior to the studies' publication. The FCC has set an Oct. 1 deadline for comment and an Oct. 16 deadline for reply comments on the studies, which were released July 31. The consumer groups want 90 days beginning after the FCC provides full access to the underlying data, which they say the FCC has yet to do.
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