WASHINGTON D.C. - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted today to loosen the restrictions on cross-ownership of newspaper and television stations in select markets. Adam Thierer, Senior Fellow and Director of The Center for Digital Media Freedom at The Progress & Freedom Foundation had the following comments:

"The Commission's action today on media ownership policy hardly constitutes 'radical deregulation' as some suggest. Rather, it's just more like tinkering around the edges of a complex regulatory scheme that does nothing to benefit consumers.

"Today's order shows that the FCC will only throw a struggling media operator a life preserver after their head's already underwater--and then the Commission will force them to make all sorts of promises before reeling them in.

"Worst of all, the Commission's latest action completely ignores other struggling media sectors and operators--especially over-the-air radio and TV broadcasters--who still have their hands tied with regulatory mandates as their traditional business models are decimated by new, unregulated media competitors."

Thierer is available for further comment on the FCC's decision and other issues surrounding media ownership. Please contact Amy Smorodin at asmorodin@pff.org or 202-289-8928.

Thierer is the author of the book, "Media Myths: Making Sense of the Debate Over Media Ownership," which is available on the PFF website.

The Progress & Freedom Foundation is a market-oriented think tank that studies the digital revolution and its implications for public policy. It is a 501(c)(3) research & educational organization.