Clear Channel lobbyist Andrew Levin told the LA Times, "We believe they are specious claims and an abuse of the regulatory process...You have to question Ralph Nader's motives: Is he really concerned about our local radio stations or about his own national political aspirations?"

This ignores the fact that Nader was active on these issues long before he began running for office and lots of other people think Clear Channel is the poster child for the dangers of media concentration.

As the LA Times story says:

Emboldened by their success in stalling relaxed media-ownership rules, opponents of consolidation are gearing up a campaign to block some television and radio stations from renewing their licenses by arguing that the broadcasters aren't serving their local communities.

Similar efforts have largely failed over the last 20 years as the Federal Communications Commission simplified its license renewal process and lifted public interest requirements that once set aside airtime for educational or public affairs programming.

But the controversy over the FCC's vote on June 2 to ease long-standing limits on media consolidation has energized a coalition of government officials and media watchdog groups...

[Cops said] "We've strayed too far away from the rigorous licensing process that we used to have," Copps said. "Now, unless you're a wife beater or a child molester or something like that, you can pretty much count on getting your license by just filing some papers."

Other media watchdog groups are preparing similar challenges against stations in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida, where a next wave of FCC licenses come up for renewal in December. Copps said he would hold his first hearing in late October in North Carolina.

Industry lobbyists dismissed the campaign as grandstanding and media bashing...

Broadcasters are nervous about Copps' plan to hit the road again with more hearings. During the media ownership debate, Copps organized more than a dozen public forums nationwide that helped galvanize a grass-roots campaign to oppose relaxation of media ownership rules. As a result, Congress and the courts are reviewing whether to roll back some of those changes.

The new hearings also set down a political challenge for FCC Chairman Michael K. Powell, who recently announced plans to launch his own initiative and hearings to study whether broadcasters were serving local markets. Powell, a Republican, was roundly criticized for ridiculing Copps' first round of hearings and refusing to participate in most.

Copps and Powell have been discussing whether they can combine their efforts and avoid the prospect of dueling campaigns, but no agreement has been reached.

Powell's office declined to comment.

"We all need to work together on these issues," said FCC Commissioner Jonathan Adelstein, a Democrat. "The more we do it together, the more we send a message to the public and broadcasters that we're serious."

Copps said he wanted to return to the days when the FCC had more stringent criteria for reviewing broadcast licenses. Renewals were previously heard every three years. Local leaders were asked to grade a station's performance. And broadcasters were required to set aside 5% of programming for local shows and another 5% for news and public affairs.

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