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What Really Happened in Minot, N.D.?The whole story about that toxic spill and the Clear Channel "monopoly."

By Jack Shafer
Posted Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007, at 6:15 PM ET

(Continued from page 2)

The economic incentive to occupy as many strong programming niches as possible is so great that the scurvy bastards at Clear Channel even broadcast the liberal Air America network in about 17 markets. Of course, Clear Channel cancels Air America where it doesn't attract a sufficient audience, but it was forced to back down from such plans late last year in Madison, Wis., when thousands protested.

Where I agree with Klinenberg and other media reformists is that the government has been too stingy in freeing up of spectrum and assigning licenses to aspiring broadcasters. If you regard Clear Channel as radio poison, the best antidote is competition. On that note, you'll be pleased to know that Clear Channel's Minot "monopoly" didn't last long. Unreported in Klinenberg's book is the recent arrival of two new, non-Clear Channel commercial stations to the Minot market—KWGO-FM and KTZU-FM.

Addendum, Jan. 11: Peter DiCola offers a learned critique of my piece in the Fray. He also notes that I repeatedly misspelled the last name of Clear Channel Chairman L. Lowry Mays in my piece. I have corrected that embarrassing error.

******

Disclosure: Klinenberg interviews me in his book. Thanks to Thomas Hazlett, a George Mason University professor of law and economics, for his expertise. I expect to return to Klinenberg's book in a future column. Send messages telepathically through the ether or via e-mail: . (E-mail may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise. Permanent disclosure: Slate is owned by the Washington Post Co.)

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