Who says C-Span 2 is a waste of a cable channel. I caught a little bit of a commitee meeting discussing the current state of radio ownership and the soul-sucking monopoly conglomerates like Clear Channel hold over the airwaves. Most suprising was the inclusion of former Simple Machine owner and Tsunami member Jenny Toomey on the panel that also included Don Henley and Clear Channel CEO Lowrey Mays. Senators John McCain and Trent Lott were asking a bunch of serious questions regarding the loss of localism and competition in the radio market. They were also being pretty hard on Clear Channel in regard to allegations that the media giant forces acts to use Clear Channel's concert division for their tours or face declining radio play on Clear Channel station. There was also extensive talk about the current payola system. I wish I could be a bit more optimistic that any of this will lead to better radio programming, but at least it was nice to see it being discussed.