I don't know about you, but I find this hilarious. In a letter to the FCC several large corporate broadcasters ­-- including Clear Channel -- have told the FCC they need to loosen the ownership rules. In other words, they want to own even more stations.

Now here's the really funny part. The letter said this loosening of the rules would make broadcasters "...able to continue to serve their communities with free, over-the-air entertainment and informational programming -- including news, emergency information, and other local programming that their audiences need and expect."

Let's see. Most radio stations no longer do any news and those that do have news have one newscaster who is a morning show sidekick. Emergency programming...right...remember that tsunami alert a couple of years ago that was run by something like three stations in western Oregon. And how about all of that local programming...would that be the voice-tracked jock from Columbus?

If anything the FCC needs to tighten the ownership rules and get rid of duopolies that have made three companies the onwers of most Portland radio stations.

Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Under Mike Powell the big three stated they needed larger ownership to survive in the new communication world.

However who's fault is it that the sales price for radio stations increased by more than 200% in less than a year.

Me thinks the big companies made an error in the 90's and they want GOVERNMENT to bail them out.

Okay I aggree, provided equal time and the fairness doctrine is brought back.

Last time I checked the weather report Hell has not frozen over yet.

I say call their bluff.

Don't allow the rule change and just see what really happens. Worst case, the rule change can be made after there is some solid justification for it.

Best case, they are then forced to add value to their investments instead of continuing to scale and cut costs to show growth.

It's really false growth --a lot like a ponzi scheme.

Gotta love Cheap Channel they are one HUGE JOKE!