NAB FOIA's FCC Media Ownership Work Product

In the wake of Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler's circulation of a quadrennial review of broadcast ownership regulations that leaves them essentially intact and, arguably, even tougher, the National Association of Broadcasters wants access to the data the FCC used to come up with that result. Apparently, the move was an unusual one for the association, but that they were scratching their heads over how the FCC could draw their conclusion.

NAB General Counsel Rick Kaplan filed the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request June 30, saying he wanted access to studies, reports, articles, surveys, and other sources of information in a host of dockets related to the rules and the review. NAB had asked the FCC to loosen or eliminate local ownership and cross-ownership rules. Chairman Wheeler instead circulated an item concluding they were still necessary, including trying to restore a joint services agreement tightening a federal court remanded, and extending the duopoly restrictions to affiliation switches.