FCC Media Bureau Prioritizes Economics

The FCC wants to get more independent information about the radio and TV industries it regulates – and rely less on data that arrives directly from the industry.
In order to do this, it has created an economic research initiative within the Media Bureau. The idea is to develop independent market analysis to see how media markets operate now, and how they will operate in the future.
Media Bureau economists will focus on the nature of competition in markets, assess industry economic performance, and analyze costs and benefits of regulation and industry organizational change.
To head the effort, economist Jerry Duvall, a 15-year FCC veteran, will head the unit as director of media economic research. Tracy Waldon replaces Duvall as the bureau’s chief economist.