Washington - Jun 15, 2011 - The Federal Communications Commission has released five research studies on media ownership. The studies are intended to inform the Commission's quadrennial review of its media ownership rules pursuant to rulemaking docket MB Docket No. 09-182. In addition, the FCC's Media Bureau is releasing a Protective Order, which establishes procedures for public review of the proprietary portions of data sets created by the authors of the studies.

The Commission will seek formal comment on all 11 studies within the context of the notice of proposed rulemaking in this proceeding and requests that all comments on the studies be submitted to the Commission for consideration at that time. The FCC is releasing the studies to provide additional time to review the results and the underlying data.

The five studies were conducted by outside researchers and examine a range of issues that affect diversity,competition and localism, three important policy goals of the media ownership rules. The studies are posted online at www.fcc.gov/ownership.

The five studies: