United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2008-03-12 monographic deposited born digital 69 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-383 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-383 P0b002ee180387ea7 f:d08383 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-383 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-383 GAO-08-383 Broadcasting Competition Cooperative agreements Data collection Data integrity Economic analysis Economic development Federal law Federal regulations Mass media Minorities Minority businesses Program evaluation Radio Reporting requirements Risk factors Standards evaluation Strategic planning Television Women Women-owned businesses Program goals or objectives Other Written Product A81282

The media industry plays an important role in educating and entertaining the public. While the media industry provides the public with many national choices, media outlets located in a local market are more likely to provide local programs that meet the needs of residents in the market compared to national outlets. This report reviews (1) the number and ownership of various media outlets; (2) the level of minority- and women-owned broadcast outlets; (3) the influence of economic, legal and regulatory, and technological factors on the number and ownership of media outlets; and (4) stakeholders' opinions on modifying certain media ownership laws and regulations. GAO conducted case studies of 16 randomly sampled markets, stratified by population. GAO also interviewed officials from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Department of Commerce, trade associations, and the industry. Finally, GAO reviewed FCC's forms, processes, and reports. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-383/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-383.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-383/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-383.pdf GAO-08-383 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-383 Other Written Product GAO-08-383; Media Ownership: Economic Factors Influence the Number of Media Outlets in Local Markets, While Ownership by Minorities and Women Appears Limited and Is Difficult to Assess; Broadcasting Competition Cooperative agreements Data collection Data integrity Economic analysis Economic development Federal law Federal regulations Mass media Minorities Minority businesses Program evaluation Radio Reporting requirements Risk factors Standards evaluation Strategic planning Television Women Women-owned businesses Program goals or objectives Title 15 Section 1801et seq. 15 U.S.C. 1801et seq. Volume 110 Page 56 110 Stat. 56 Volume 118 Page 3 et seq. 118 Stat. 3 et seq. Public Law 104-104 Public Law 108-199