Dems Demand Probe of 'Suppressed' Studies

DEMS DEMAND PROBE OF 'SUPPRESSED' STUDIES
[SOURCE: TVNewsday]
Thirty-four House Democrats called on FCC Inspector General Kent R. Nilsson to investigate whether the FCC had suppressed two studies that seem to undermine the agency efforts over the past several years to relax restrictions on broadcast ownership. Led by Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), Congressman David Price (D-NC), Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Congressman Sherrod Brown (D-OH), the House Democrats asked for IG Nilsson to recommend possible disciplinary action against agency officials if he finds that they purposefully withheld the studies from the public. "If one or both of these reports were suppressed because they did not support official FCC policy, such actions could not only constitute fraud, but could also run counter to the FCC's stated goals of transparency and public involvement in its media ownership proceedings," the Democrats said in a letter they sent to IG Nilsson. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), who was first to suggest the FCC had suppressed studies contrary to its ownership goals, asked for an IG investigation last week.
http://www.tvnewsday.com/articles/2006/09/21/daily.5/

* House Members Call On FCC Inspector General To Investigate Hidden Studies On Media Consolidation
http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/ny22_hinchey/morenews/092106FCCIG.h...