RTV Theory and Practice - Special Issue

1982, р . 27) . Also in 1982, the Court of Appeals uphelđ the FCC radio deregulation order (84 FCC 2d p.1013), signaling the probable reduction of distress sales as an option for minority purchasers of broadcast properties . Commissioner Dawson stressed that minorities should no longer count on this incentive because there would be fewer hearings on license violations under đeregulation (Broadcasting ,Dec .7,1 98 1 p.52). Throughout the period between 1978 to 1983, the FCC issued proposals and rulemaKings designed to a ) increase radio freguencies and AM quality , and b) turn regulation over tO’ the marketplace. In 1979, for example, an FCC conference examined the future of satellites, more AM radio channe'ls, digital technology , expanding networks , competition , format changes , experimentation with audience shares , and FM expansion (Broadcasting , Sept. 1979). Ву March 19 80, the FCC issued a rulemaking for FM expansion anđ in April it adopted an AM stereo system which took effect two years later . in June , the FCC broke down clear channel AM's, proposing to create 125 new channels . The changes were still not resolved by the end of 1983 so were not likely to af fect this study in апу measurable way . The general portrait of the broađcasting industry between 19 78 and 198 3 was one of a large number of changes in regulation , technology , financing options , and shifts in the есопоту . Perhaps this wasn't the best period to evaluate the effectiveness of minority ownership incentive programs because it was impossible to hold everything but ownership constant. On the other hand, the questions surrounding the eff ectivess and usefulness of incentive programs for increasing minority ownership are important ones anđ shouid be examineđ . Comparing black ownership growth to overall ownership growth should yield sufficiently important comparisons despite changes occurnng m the broadcasting industry . V METHODOLOGV In order to conduct a comparison before and after the introduction of mcentives , data were used from the only empirical stuđy found in the literature which ехаттез patterns of black ownership over time , Lawrence Soley and George Hough lll's 1978 study entitled : "Black Ownership of Commercial Radio Stations: An Economic Evaluation" . The timmg of them study preceded by one уеаг the introduction of mcentives to increase minority ownership in the broadcastmg mđustry so their study serves as an excellent basis for compression before and after the introduction of mcentives .

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