Aide to Rep. Berman (D-Cal.) said Dept. of Justice (DoJ) and FCC ...
Aide to Rep. Berman (D-Cal.) said Dept. of Justice (DoJ) and FCC might be willing to investigate Clear Channel Communications for its role in vertical and horizontal integration of TV, radio and concert promotion industries. DoJ and FCC recently…
Sign up for a free preview to unlock the rest of this article
If your job depends on informed compliance, you need International Trade Today. Delivered every business day and available any time online, only International Trade Today helps you stay current on the increasingly complex international trade regulatory environment.
responded to earlier request by Berman for inquiry into whether Clear Channel was abusing its consolidated holdings in those industries, staffer said (CD Jan 28 p7). However, DoJ and FCC want individuals or companies that privately presented claim of impropriety to Berman to come forward and present facts, he said: “He has heard from both agencies and they are willing to take a look at any hard evidence that anyone can provide to see if it warrants an investigation.” Govt. will consider pursuing issue if accusers can back up specific claims that Clear Channel: (1) Arranged for 3rd parties to buy stations in markets where company already exceeded multiple radio and TV station ownership caps. (2) “Punished” recording artists for refusing to use its Clear Channel Entertainment concert promotion service. Aide said Berman, ranking minority member of Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts & Intellectual Property, had referred matter to parties that initially raised issue, which he declined to identify. Clear Channel had no comment by our deadline.