FCC Seeks Input On Competition in Audio-Delivery Marketplace

At the direction of Congress, the FCC is examining the state of competition in the audio-delivery marketplace. This effort is expected to be the most complete look at competition in the industry in many years and could help guide future FCC decision-making on topics such as ownership rules.

To begin the process, the FCC is asking for input on the best ways to measure competition among terrestrial radio broadcast stations and newer audio services like satellite radio and online streaming. It also asks for industry data for use in assessing the level of competition. The FCC is particularly interested in:

• Trends in service offerings, pricing and consumer behavior
• The extent of competition among terrestrial radio broadcast stations themselves and among broadcast stations and other forms of audio services
• Ratings, subscriber numbers and revenue information for the marketplace as a whole and for individual services
• The extent to which laws and regulations pose a barrier to competitive entry into the audio-delivery marketplace

This information will be used by the FCC as it prepares a report to Congress by the end of the year that assesses the level of audio-delivery marketplace competition.

Comments are due on September 24, 2018, with reply comments due October 9, 2018. If you would like to submit comments, please contact any attorney in our office.