-
Report: FCC Launches Formal Payola Investigations
April 20, 2006 at 6:02 AM (PT)
What do you think? Add your comment below. -
The LOS ANGELES TIMES is reporting that the FCC has launched formal investigations and issued letters of inquiry to CLEAR CHANNEL, CBS, ENTERCOM, and CITADEL asking for more information about payola accusations.
Talks between the companies and the Commission about a possible settlement broke down last month; the report quotes an unnamed FCC official as saying “we were in the process of trying to reach settlements, but when talks were inconclusive, we decided we needed more information. We will continue to speak with the parties and to hold those who have violated commission rules accountable.”
...we can keep on going until we're convinced we've found everything.
Another FCC official told the paper that "until now, we've been limited to the evidence (NEW YORK Attorney General ELIOT) SPITZER gave us, but a formal investigation will compel the radio companies to answer certain questions, which are usually pretty exhaustive. It will all be on the record now, and once we start demanding documents, we can keep on going until we're convinced we've found everything."
Read the TIMES report by clicking here.
And ALL ACCESS has heard that some ENTERCOM employees have received a long memo of the company's anti-payola policy and a statement to sign certifying compliance in their e-mail TODAY. Coincidence?

