Legal Proceedings

        In a complaint filed on June 5, 2003, with the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, we were named as one of numerous defendants in litigation seeking monetary damages arising from the injuries and deaths of certain concertgoers at a Rhode Island nightclub. The complaint contains multiple causes of action, only a small number of which are brought against us, in which our sole involvement was to advertise the concert on one of our stations and to distribute promotional tickets provided by the organizers. The complaint alleges, among other things, that the organizers and sponsors of the concert failed to control crowd size, failed to obtain pyrotechnic permits, failed to inspect fireproofing at the club and failed to maintain emergency exits in workable condition, which contributed to the injuries and deaths of plaintiffs when pyrotechnic devices on the stage ignited soundproofing materials adjacent to the stage during the concert. The complaint alleges that we were a co-sponsor of the concert and asserts claims against us based on theories of joint venture liability and negligence. A motion is currently pending that would remove this case to the United States District Court for the District of Rhode Island and consolidate it with other cases arising out of the Rhode Island nightclub fire before such Court. We believe that plaintiffs' claims against us are without merit and intend to defend these claims vigorously.

        On October 1, 2003, we terminated our National Radio Sales Representation Agreement with McGavren Guild Radio, Inc. ("McGavren"). Based on McGavren's breach of its obligations, we believe that we properly terminated our relationship with McGavren. On October 23, 2003, McGavren filed an arbitration demand seeking damages in excess of $65 million. We believe we have claims against McGavren for failure to perform under the agreement and, on November 20, 2003, we answered McGavren's arbitration demand and served our statement of counterclaim against McGavren. We intend to vigorously pursue our claim and defend the claim asserted by McGavren.

        We have entered into a new sales representation agreement with Katz Media Group, Inc.

        We are subject to other claims and lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of our business. We believe that none of these legal proceedings would have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, cash flows or financial condition.

57

FEDERAL REGULATION OF RADIO BROADCASTING

Introduction

        Our ownership, operation, purchase and sale of radio stations is regulated by the FCC, which acts under authority derived from the Communications Act. Among other things, the FCC:

•

assigns frequency bands for broadcasting;



•

determines the particular frequencies, locations, operating powers and other technical parameters of stations;



•

issues, renews, revokes and modifies station licenses;



•

determines whether to approve changes in ownership or control of station licenses;



•

regulates equipment used by stations; and



•

adopts and implements regulations and policies that directly or indirectly affect the ownership, operation and employment practices of stations.

        The FCC has the power to impose penalties for violations of its rules or the Communications Act, including fines, the grant of abbreviated license renewal terms or, for particularly egregious violations, the denial of a license renewal application, the revocation of a license or the denial of FCC consent to acquire additional radio stations.

        The following is a brief summary of some provisions of the Communications Act and of specific FCC regulations and policies. The summary is not a comprehensive listing of all of the regulations and policies affecting radio stations. For further information concerning the nature and extent of federal regulation of radio stations, you should refer to the Communications Act, FCC rules and FCC public notices and rulings.

License Grant and Renewal

        Radio stations operate under renewable broadcasting licenses that are ordinarily granted by the FCC for maximum terms of eight years. Licenses are renewed through an application to the FCC. A station may continue to operate beyond the expiration date of its license if a timely filed license application is pending. Petitions to deny license renewals can be filed by interested parties, including members of the public. These petitions may raise various issues before the FCC. The FCC is required to hold hearings on renewal applications if the FCC is unable to determine that renewal of a license would serve the public interest, convenience and necessity, or if a petition to deny raises a substantial and material question of fact as to whether the grant of the renewal application would be inconsistent with the public interest, convenience and necessity. If, as a result of an evidentiary hearing, the FCC determines that the licensee has failed to meet various requirements and that no mitigating factors justify the imposition of a lesser sanction, then the FCC may deny a license renewal application. Historically, FCC licenses have generally been renewed, although we cannot assure you that all of our licenses will be renewed. The non-renewal, or renewal with substantial conditions or modifications, of one or more of our FCC radio station licenses could have a material adverse effect on our business.

        The FCC classifies each AM and FM station. An AM station operates on either a clear channel, regional channel or local channel. A clear channel is one on which AM stations are assigned to serve wide areas. Clear channel AM stations are classified as either:

•

Class A stations, which operate on an unlimited time basis and are designed to render primary and secondary service over an extended area;



•

Class B stations, which operate on an unlimited time basis and are designed to render service only over a primary service area; or

58

•

Class D stations, which operate either during daytime hours only, during limited times only or on an unlimited time basis with low nighttime power.

        A regional channel is one on which Class B and Class D AM stations may operate and serve primarily a principal center of population and the rural areas contiguous to it. A local channel is one on which AM stations operate on an unlimited time basis and serve primarily a community and the suburban and rural areas immediately contiguous to it. Class C AM stations operate on a local channel and are designed to render service only over a primary service area that may be reduced as a consequence of interference.

        The minimum and maximum facilities requirements for an FM station are determined by its class. Some FM class designations depend upon the geographic zone in which the transmitter of the FM station is located. In general, commercial FM stations are classified as Class A, B1, C3, B, C2, C1, C0 and C, in order of increasing power and antenna height. The FCC recently adopted a rule that subjects Class C FM stations to involuntary downgrades to Class C0 in various circumstances if they do not meet certain antenna height specifications. Three of our stations have recently been downgraded, and a few proceedings are pending that could result in downgrades but the downgrades have no effect on the stations' existing signals. We have several applications currently pending to upgrade the facilities of various of our stations.

        The following table sets forth the metropolitan market served (the city of license may differ), call letters, FCC license classification, frequency, power and FCC license expiration date of each of the stations that we own. Our wholly owned subsidiary, Citadel Broadcasting Company, holds our licenses. Pursuant to FCC rules and regulations, many AM radio stations are licensed to operate at a reduced power during the nighttime broadcasting hours, which results in reducing the radio station's coverage during the nighttime hours of operation. Both power ratings are shown if different. For FM stations, the maximum effective radiated power (ERP) in the main lobe is given. The market assignments on this table reflect our regional station groups for accounting and operational purposes and do not necessarily reflect assignment of a station to the relevant market as defined by Arbitron.

59

60

61

62

63

Transfers or Assignments of Licenses

        The Communications Act prohibits the assignment of a broadcast license or transfer of control of a broadcast licensee without the prior approval of the FCC. In determining whether to grant approval, the FCC considers a number of factors pertaining to the licensee (and proposed licensee), including:

•

compliance with the various rules and policies limiting common ownership of media properties in a given market;



•

the "character" of the licensee and those persons holding "attributable" interests in the licensee; and



•

compliance with the Communications Act's limitations on alien ownership, as well as compliance with other FCC regulations and policies.

        To obtain FCC consent to assign a broadcast license or transfer control of a broadcast licensee, appropriate applications must be filed with the FCC. If the application involves a "substantial change" in ownership or control, the application must be placed on public notice for not less than 30 days during which time interested parties, including listeners, advertisers and competitors, may file petitions to deny or other objections against the application. These types of petitions are filed from time to time with respect to proposed acquisitions. Informal objections to assignment and transfer of control applications may be filed at any time up until the FCC acts on the application. Once the FCC staff grants an application, interested parties may seek reconsideration of that grant for 30 days, after which time the FCC may for another ten days reconsider the grant of the FCC staff on the FCC's own motion. If the application does not involve a "substantial change" in ownership or control, it is a "pro forma" application. The "pro forma" application is nevertheless subject to having informal objections filed against it. When passing on an assignment or transfer application, the FCC is prohibited from considering whether the public interest might be served by an assignment or transfer of the broadcast license to any party other than the assignee or transferee specified in the application.

Multiple Ownership Rules

        The FCC rules impose specific limits on the number of commercial radio stations an entity can own in a particular geographic area. These local radio ownership rules preclude us from acquiring certain stations we might otherwise seek to acquire. The rules also effectively prevent us from selling stations in an area to a buyer that has reached its ownership limit in the market unless the buyer divests other stations. The local radio ownership rules are as follows:

•

in markets with 45 or more radio stations, ownership is limited to eight commercial stations, no more than five of which can be either AM or FM;



•

in markets with 30 to 44 radio stations, ownership is limited to seven commercial stations, no more than four of which can be either AM or FM;



•

in markets with 15 to 29 radio stations, ownership is limited to six commercial stations, no more than four of which can be either AM or FM; and



•

in markets with 14 or fewer radio stations, ownership is limited to five commercial stations or no more than 50% of the market's total, whichever is lower, and no more than three of which can be either AM or FM.

        On June 2, 2003, the FCC concluded an omnibus rulemaking proceeding in which it examined all broadcast ownership rules, including the local radio ownership rule, the broadcast-newspaper ownership rule, the radio-television cross-ownership rule, the local television ownership rule, the national television ownership rule and the dual network rule. With respect to radio, the FCC retained the specific limits on the number of commercial radio stations an entity can own in a particular geographic

64

market. The FCC, however, changed the way it defines the relevant geographic market and counts the number of stations in that market. The FCC abandoned the "signal contour" method of defining the market for radio stations that are located in areas where Arbitron ranks stations. These geographic areas are called "Arbitron Metros". Under the new rules, the FCC determines the number of radio stations in an Arbitron Metro, for purposes of determining the ownership limit, by counting all commercial and non-commercial radio stations licensed to communities within the Arbitron Metro, plus all radio stations licensed to communities located outside of the Metro but treated by Arbitron as "home" to the Metro. Unlike under the previous rules, both commercial and non-commercial stations are counted in determining the number of stations in a market. The FCC uses the same methodology to determine the number of stations that a single company is deemed to own or control, directly or by attribution.

        For radio stations located outside of an Arbitron Metro, the FCC will continue to use its previous signal contour-based methodology, with two modifications. The FCC also initiated a new rulemaking proceeding to develop a new method of defining markets located outside of Arbitron Metros. We own few radio stations in unrated markets. We do not believe that the FCC's rule changes as they apply to unrated markets will have any material effect on our business plan.

        The FCC's rule changes as they apply to radio stations in Arbitron Metros have several potential adverse effects. In some markets, the new rules have the effect of both (i) decreasing the number of radio stations deemed to be in the market overall, thereby lowering the applicable ownership tier, and (ii) increasing the number of radio stations that we are deemed to own in the market. For example, the number of overall stations in some of our markets will be reduced from 45 or more to fewer than 45, thereby reducing the applicable ownership limit from eight radio stations, no more than five of which may be AM or FM, to seven radio stations, no more than four of which may be AM or FM. In addition, in several markets, we will be deemed to own or control more radio stations than we were deemed to own or control under the old rules.

        Our existing station portfolio exceeds the applicable ownership limit under the new Arbitron Metro rule by approximately twelve stations in nine markets. Furthermore, some of our existing station portfolio may be subject to compliance with both the Arbitron-Metro based rule and the modified signal-contour methodology. It is not yet clear how the FCC will apply its new ownership rules in this situation. Under the new rules, however, we will not be required to divest existing owned stations in order to come into compliance with the new limits. Instead, existing ownership combinations are "grandfathered". Divestitures will be required only if we seek to transfer control of the stations or we attempt to acquire additional stations in the market. The FCC's rules contain an exception to the divestiture requirement in the case of transfers to "small businesses" as defined by the FCC. The rules also contain an exception to the divestiture requirement in the case of pro forma transfers of control, which we believe would apply in the event of any transfer of control that may be deemed to occur if as a result of future offerings by us or sales by the Forstmann Little partnerships, the Forstmann Little partnerships cease to own a controlling interest in us, or, there is a change in control of the Forstmann Little partnerships, provided that no other person acquires control.

        Under the FCC's current rules, radio stations that are operated under local marketing agreements may be treated as owned for purposes of the local radio ownership limit. See "—Time Brokerage". The new rules extend this treatment to certain joint sales agreements. Some of our existing local marketing agreements and joint sales agreements do not comply with the new local radio ownership rule. Unlike existing ownership combinations, non-compliant joint sales agreements and local marketing agreements are not permanently grandfathered, but must be terminated, if non-compliant, no later than two years after the new rules become effective.

65

        In addition, we have determined that our pending acquisition in the Providence, RI market may not comply with the new rules. With respect to the Providence acquisition, we intend to request a waiver or agree to divest, as necessary, to comply with the new rules.

        The FCC also eliminated the cross-ownership rules that limited or prohibited radio station ownership by the owner of television stations or a daily newspaper in the same market and replaced these rules with a new cross-media rule. Under the new cross-media rule, the following limits apply:

•

in markets with three or fewer TV stations, no cross-ownership is permitted among TV, radio and newspapers, although a company may request a waiver if it can show that the TV station does not serve the area served by the cross-owned property (i.e. the radio station or newspaper);



•

in markets with between four and eight TV stations, combinations are limited to one of the following:

•

a daily newspaper, one TV station, and up to half of the radio station limit for that market, or

•

a daily newspaper, and up to the radio station limit for that market, but no TV stations, or

•

two TV stations (if permissible under the local TV ownership rule), and up to the radio station limit for that market, but no daily newspapers.

•

in markets with nine or more TV stations, the FCC eliminated the newspaper-broadcast cross-ownership ban and the television-radio cross-ownership ban.

        The new rules were to become effective on September 4, 2003, but were stayed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on September 3, 2003 pending the outcome of appeals filed by several entities. A number of parties also filed requests with the FCC seeking reconsideration of certain aspects of the new rules. Although the FCC is currently processing assignment and transfer of control applications using the rules in effect prior to the June 2, 2003 decision, if a proposed acquisition would not comply with the new rules, processing of the FCC application related to the acquisition may be delayed. There is significant congressional opposition to the new rules, and bills were introduced in the 108 ^th Congress, 1 ^st Session to modify or repeal the FCC's action. On June 19, 2003, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation reported S. 1046, which would repeal several of the ownership rules adopted by the FCC on June 2, 2003. S. 1046, as reported by the Senate Commerce Committee, would also eliminate grandfathering of non-compliant radio combinations within one year of enactment. S. 1046 would also reinstate the radio/TV cross-ownership and newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership rules, reinstate the 35% cap on national television ownership, require the FCC to review the media ownership rules every five years, rather than every two years as currently required by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and require the FCC to hold at least five public hearings before the next modification of media ownership rules.

        In addition, on June 26, 2003, the Senate Commerce Committee reported S. 1264, the annual legislation authorizing and appropriating funds for the FCC. This legislation also includes several media-related provisions, including with respect to the ownership rules, instructing the FCC to review its media ownership rules every five years, rather than every two years as currently required, expressly allowing the FCC to strengthen or broaden any ownership restriction as necessary in the public interest, and disallowing the 50% discount for UHF television stations purchased or transferred after June 2, 2003 for purposes of calculating the national audience reach of a television station group and compliance with the television national audience cap. On July 15, 2003, several Senators introduced a resolution, S.J. Res. 17, that if adopted would void the new ownership rules under the Congressional Review Act.

        On July 23, 2003, the House of Representatives approved by an overwhelming vote the Fiscal Year 2004 Commerce, Justice, and State Spending Bill. This appropriations bill includes a provision that

66

would prohibit the FCC from using any authorized funds to grant licenses for a commercial television station if the grant would result in the licensee having a national audience reach in excess of 35%. The Senate has not yet approved, but will consider in the near future, a similar appropriations bill. Any differences between the House and Senate appropriations bills will be resolved during the committee conference on these bills. The House appropriations bill as approved only relates to television ownership, not radio, and therefore would have no effect on us.

        At this time, it is uncertain whether any potential congressional proposals will become law or what effect such legislation will have on us and our ability to acquire additional stations. If the provision of S. 1046 requiring divestitures to come into compliance with the Arbitron-based geographic market approach for defining local radio markets were to become law, we would be required to divest approximately twelve stations in nine markets. We have evaluated the potential impact of this divestiture requirement and we believe that the required divestitures would not have a materially adverse effect on us as a whole, because we could come into compliance by divesting underperforming or technically inferior stations, and divestitures may have the effect of leveling the competitive playing field in markets where existing competitors own radio stations in excess of the new limits. In addition, the requirement that other companies divest stations may create acquisition opportunities for us in other markets.

Ownership Attribution Rules

        The FCC's multiple ownership rules apply to "attributable" interests in broadcast stations or daily newspapers held by an individual, corporation, partnership or other association. In the case of corporations directly or indirectly controlling broadcast licenses, the interests of officers, directors and those who, directly or indirectly, have the right to vote 5% or more of the corporation's voting stock are generally attributable. Some passive investors are attributable only if they hold 20% or more of the corporation's voting stock. However, all minority shareholder interests (other than interests subject to the debt/equity rule discussed in the next paragraph) are exempt from attribution if a single shareholder controls a majority of the voting shares in the corporation. Although the FCC had previously revoked the single majority shareholder exemption, on December 3, 2001, following a court decision that found the FCC's elimination of the exemption in the context of the FCC's cable ownership attribution rules to be arbitrary and capricious, the FCC suspended enforcement of the elimination of the exemption pending the outcome of a rulemaking to reconsider this matter.

        Notwithstanding the presence of a single majority shareholder, the FCC will attribute the interests of various creditors or investors in a corporation under the so-called "debt/equity plus" rule. Under this rule, a major programming supplier or a same-market owner will be treated as an attributable owner of a station if the supplier or owner holds debt or equity, or both, in the station that is greater than 33% of the value of the station's total debt plus equity. A major programming supplier includes any programming supplier that provides more than 15% of the station's weekly programming hours. A same-market owner includes any attributable owner of a media company, including broadcast stations, cable television, and newspapers, located in the same market as the station, but only if the owner is attributable under an FCC attribution rule other than the debt/equity plus rule.

        The attribution rules could limit the number of radio stations we may acquire or own in any market and may also limit the ability of various potential buyers of stations owned by us from being able to purchase some or all of the stations that they might otherwise wish to purchase from us. To address the possibility that attributable interests held by minority shareholders could limit our ability to acquire stations, our certificate of incorporation provides that our capital stock is subject to redemption by action of our board of directors to the extent necessary to bring us into compliance with the FCC's ownership rules.

67

Alien Ownership Rules

        The Communications Act prohibits the issuance or holding of broadcast licenses by aliens, including any corporation if more than 20% of its capital stock is collectively owned or voted by aliens. In addition, the FCC may prohibit any corporation from holding a broadcast license if the corporation is directly or indirectly controlled by any other corporation of which more than 25% of the capital stock is owned of record or voted by aliens, if the FCC finds that the prohibition is in the public interest. The FCC has interpreted this provision of the Communications Act to require an affirmative public interest finding before a broadcast license may be granted to or held by any such corporation, and the FCC has made such affirmative findings only in limited circumstances. These restrictions apply in similar fashion to other forms of businesses and organizations, including partnerships and limited liability companies. Our certificate of incorporation provides that our capital stock is subject to redemption by action of our board of directors to the extent necessary to bring us into compliance with the Communications Act or FCC regulations or prevent the loss of any of our FCC licenses.

Time Brokerage

        Over the years, a number of radio stations have entered into what have commonly been referred to as time brokerage agreements or local marketing agreements. While these agreements may take varying forms, under a typical time brokerage agreement, separately owned and licensed radio stations agree to enter into cooperative arrangements of varying sorts, subject to compliance with the requirements of antitrust laws and with the FCC's rules and policies. Under these arrangements, separately owned stations could agree to function cooperatively in programming, advertising sales and similar matters, subject to the requirement that the licensee of each station maintain independent control over the programming and operations of its own station. One typical type of time brokerage agreement is a programming agreement between two separately owned radio stations serving a common service area, whereby the licensee of one station provides substantial portions of the broadcast programming for airing on the other licensee's station, subject to ultimate editorial and other controls being exercised by the latter licensee, and sells advertising time during those program segments.

        The FCC's rules provide that a radio station that brokers more than 15% of its weekly broadcast time on another station serving the same market will be considered to have an attributable ownership interest in the brokered station for purposes of the FCC's multiple ownership rules. As a result, in a market where we own a radio station, we would not be permitted to enter into a time brokerage agreement with another local radio station in the same market that we could not own under the local ownership rules, unless our programming on the brokered station constituted 15% or less of the other local station's programming time on a weekly basis. FCC rules also prohibit a radio station from duplicating more than 25% of its programming on another station in the same broadcast service ( i.e. , AM-AM or FM-FM) directly or through a time brokerage agreement where the brokered and brokering stations that it owns or programs serve substantially the same area.

        The FCC's new ownership rules extend ownership attribution to certain joint sales agreements as well. See "—Multiple Ownership Rules". Under a joint sales agreement, one radio station sells the commercial time on a separately owned and licensed radio station, but does not provide programming as under a time brokerage or local marketing agreement. A radio station that sells more than 15% of the advertising time of another radio station in the same market will be considered to have an attributable ownership interest in the other station for purposes of the FCC's multiple ownership rules. As a result, we will no longer be able to enter into a joint sales agreement providing for the sale of more than 15% of the advertising time of another radio station that we could not own. Under the FCC's new ownership rules, companies have two years to terminate non-compliant time brokerage and joint sales agreements or otherwise come into compliance with the new limits. We do not believe that termination of these agreements or our actions to come into compliance with the new rules with respect to these agreements will have a material impact on our business or our results of operations.

68

Programming and Operation

        The Communications Act requires broadcasters to serve the public interest. Since 1981, the FCC gradually has relaxed or eliminated many of the more formalized procedures it developed to promote the broadcast of types of programming responsive to the needs of a station's community of license. However, licensees continue to be required to present programming that is responsive to community problems, needs and interests and to maintain records demonstrating responsiveness. Complaints from listeners concerning a station's programming will be considered by the FCC when it evaluates the licensee's renewal application, although listener complaints may be filed and considered at any time and must be maintained in the station's public file.

        The FCC's rules prohibit the broadcast of obscene material at any time and indecent material between the hours of 6 am and 10 pm. All broadcasters face the risk of violating the prohibition on the broadcast of indecent material because of the inherent vagueness of the FCC's definition of indecent matter, coupled with the spontaneity of live programming.

        Recently, the FCC has begun more vigorous enforcement of its indecency rules against the broadcasting industry as a whole, and has threatened to initiate license revocation proceedings against broadcast licensees for future serious indecency violations. Two Congressional committees have recently conducted hearings related to indecency. Legislation has also been introduced in Congress that would increase the penalties for broadcasting indecent programming, and depending on the number of violations engaged in, would automatically subject broadcasters to license revocation, renewal or qualifications proceedings in the event that they broadcast indecent material. We have one outstanding indecency proceeding against one of our stations stations in Albuquerque, NM. The pendancy of this proceeding, as well as the FCC's more vigorous enforcement of its indecency rules, may encourage third parties to challenge our license renewal or assignment applications. As a result of these developments, the Company has increased internal controls to reduce the risk of broadcast of indecent material in violation of the FCC's rules.

        Stations also must pay regulatory and application fees and follow various FCC rules that regulate, among other things, political advertising, the broadcast of obscene or indecent programming, the advertisement of casinos and lotteries, sponsorship identification and technical operations, including limits on radio frequency radiation.

        The FCC adopted new EEO rules for broadcasters which became effective March 10, 2003. The new rules are outreach and recruitment focused and require that broadcasters: (1) widely disseminate information for each full-time job vacancy, except for vacancies filled in exigent circumstances; (2) provide notification to community and recruitment organizations that have requested information on all or selected job vacancies; and (3) participate in "longer-term" recruitment initiatives, such as job fairs, internships, scholarships and EEO/anti-discrimination training programs. Broadcasters remain subject to the FCC's anti-discrimination policy but the use of minority or women-targeted recruitment sources is no longer mandated. The new rules also require a broadcaster to keep extensive internal records regarding its recruitment efforts including information regarding its recruitment sources and interviewees, notification to requesting community groups and specifics regarding participation in the longer-term initiatives. Broadcasters must also prepare and place in the public inspection file (and on their website if they maintain one) an annual EEO public file report that details recruitment efforts and interviewee totals, the referral sources used for each vacancy, the community groups notified, and specifics regarding participation in longer-term recruitment initiatives. Broadcasters are subject to an FCC mid-term review in the fourth year of the license term and an FCC review as part of the license renewal application, both requiring the submission of the annual EEO public file report for the preceding two years with a statement certifying that the broadcaster's reports are accurate. As of June 30, 2003, the FCC has not reinstated its requirement for a broadcaster to submit its annual workforce employment information to the FCC for statistical purposes. The FCC is expected to address

69

the workforce employment information and filing requirements in a separate Report and Order. Also pending is the FCC's review of recruitment requirements for part-time vacancies and it issued a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in conjunction with the new rules to solicit public comment on this issue. The FCC is expected to issue final rules regarding part-time vacancies in 2004.

        The FCC has issued a decision holding that a broadcast station may not deny a candidate for federal political office a request for broadcast advertising time solely on the grounds that the amount of time requested is not the standard length of time which the station offers to its commercial advertisers. The effect that this FCC decision will have on our programming and commercial advertising is uncertain at this time.

        Periodically, we may be required to obtain special temporary authority (STA) from the FCC to operate one or more of the stations in a manner different from the licensed parameters so that we can complete scheduled construction or maintenance or so that we may repair damaged or broken equipment without interrupting service. We are currently operating some stations under STAs in the ordinary course of business.

        In the ordinary course of business, we have received complaints or the FCC has initiated inquiries about whether we have broadcast indecent programming or violated technical requirements.

Proposed and Recent Changes

        Congress, the FCC or other federal agencies may in the future consider and adopt new laws, regulations and policies regarding a wide variety of matters that could, directly or indirectly, affect the operation, ownership and profitability of our radio stations, result in the loss of audience share and advertising revenue for our radio stations, and affect our ability to acquire additional radio stations or finance acquisitions. These matters include:

•

changes in the FCC's ownership rules and policies, including changes to the local radio ownership rules and the limitations on the cross-ownership of radio and other media (see "—Multiple Ownership Rules");



•

proposals to increase regulatory fees or to impose spectrum use or other fees on FCC licensees;



•

technical and frequency allocation matters and changes to broadcast technical requirements;



•

proposals to restrict or prohibit the advertising of beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages;



•

proposals to restrict or prohibit the advertising of on-line casinos or on-line sports-betting services;



•

proposals to limit the tax deductibility of advertising expenses by advertisers;



•

restatement in revised form of FCC's equal employment opportunity rules and revision to rules relating to political broadcasting; and



•

proposals to regulate or prohibit payments to stations by independent record promoters.

        The FCC recently selected In-Band, On-Channel™ technology as the exclusive standard for digital services for terrestrial AM and FM broadcasters. The FCC has authorized the immediate commencement of "hybrid" transmissions—simultaneous transmissions in both analog and digital—pending the adoption of formal licensing and service rules, using In-Band, On-Channel™ systems for FM stations. Tests of the In-Band, On Channel™ technology for AM stations are ongoing and hybrid transmissions for AM stations have not yet been authorized. Digital audio broadcasting's advantages over traditional analog broadcasting technology include improved sound quality and the ability to offer a greater variety of auxiliary services. In-Band, On-Channel™ technology will permit radio stations to transmit radio programming in both analog and digital formats, and eventually in digital only formats,

70

using the bandwidth that the radio station is currently licensed to use. It is unclear what formal licensing and service rules the FCC will adopt regarding digital audio broadcasting and what effect these regulations will have on our business or the operations of our stations.

        In January 2000, the FCC created a new low power FM radio service. The new low power stations operate at a maximum power of between ten and 100 watts in the existing FM commercial and non-commercial band. Low power stations may be used by governmental and non-profit organizations to provide non-commercial educational programming or public safety and transportation radio services. No existing broadcaster or other media entity is permitted to have an ownership interest or enter into any program or operating agreement with any low power FM station. During the first two years of the new service, applicants must be based in the area that they propose to serve. Applicants are not permitted to own more than one station nationwide during the initial two-year period. After the initial two-year period, entities are allowed to own up to five stations nationwide, and after three years, the limit will be raised to ten stations nationwide. A single person or entity may not own two low power stations whose transmitters are less than seven miles from each other. The authorizations for the new stations are not transferable. In April 2001, the FCC adopted a third channel interference protection standard, and prohibited any applicant from obtaining a low power FM station who has previously operated a station without a license.

        At this time it is difficult to assess the competitive impact of these new stations. Although the new low power stations must comply with certain technical requirements aimed at protecting existing FM radio stations from interference, we cannot be certain of the level of interference that low power stations will cause after they begin operating. Moreover, if low power FM stations are licensed in the markets in which we operate, the low power stations may compete with us for listeners. The low power stations may also limit our ability to obtain new licenses or to modify our existing facilities, or cause interference to areas of existing service that are not protected by the FCC's rules, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business.

        On January 28, 2003, Senator Russell Feingold reintroduced a bill in the U.S. Senate entitled "The Competition in Radio and Concert Industries Act". The bill purports to address anti-competitive practices in the radio and concert industries. Among other things, the bill would impose a 60% national audience reach cap for commercial radio stations and a local radio ownership cap of 35% of the local audience share or 35% of the local radio revenue. It would also prohibit the FCC from relaxing the present local numerical radio ownership caps. The bill would further regulate local marketing agreements, joint sales agreements and other contractual relationships between radio stations, including limiting the duration of local marketing agreements entered into after the enactment of the legislation to no more than one year.

        The Feingold legislation would also modify Federal law that prohibits the payment of money, services or other valuable consideration to a radio station or station employee in exchange for the inclusion of any matter in the station's programming without on-air disclosure (known as payola). Currently, many radio stations, including stations owned by us, have arrangements with independent record promoters pursuant to which stations receive consideration from promoters in exchange for giving those promoters advance notice of new songs added to a particular station's play-list. The Feingold legislation would prohibit a radio station from using its control over any matter broadcast to extract consideration from a record company, artist, concert promoter, or other entity. It is unclear what impact the legislation, if adopted, would have on existing relationships between radio stations and independent record promoters.

        We cannot predict what other matters might be considered in the future by the FCC or Congress, nor can we judge in advance what impact, if any, the implementation of any of these proposals or changes might have on our business.

71

Federal Antitrust Considerations

        The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice, which evaluate transactions to determine whether those transactions should be challenged under the federal antitrust laws, have been increasingly active recently in their review of radio station acquisitions, particularly where an operator proposes to acquire additional stations in its existing markets.

        For an acquisition meeting certain size thresholds, the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder, require the parties to file Notification and Report Forms with the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice and to observe specified waiting period requirements before consummating the acquisition. During the initial 30-day period after the filing, the agencies decide which of them will investigate the transaction. If the investigating agency determines that the transaction does not raise significant antitrust issues, then it will either terminate the waiting period or allow it to expire after the initial 30 days. On the other hand, if the agency determines that the transaction requires a more detailed investigation, then, at the conclusion of the initial 30-day period, it will issue a formal request for additional information. The issuance of a formal request extends the waiting period until the 20th calendar day after the date of substantial compliance by all parties to the acquisition. Thereafter, the waiting period may only be extended by court order or with the consent of the parties. In practice, complying with a formal request can take a significant amount of time. In addition, if the investigating agency raises substantive issues in connection with a proposed transaction, then the parties frequently engage in lengthy discussions or negotiations with the investigating agency concerning possible means of addressing those issues, including persuading the agency that the proposed acquisition would not violate the antitrust laws, restructuring the proposed acquisition, divestiture of other assets of one or more parties, or abandonment of the transaction. These discussions and negotiations can be time consuming, and the parties may agree to delay completion of the acquisition during their pendency.

        At any time before or after the completion of a proposed acquisition, the Federal Trade Commission or the Department of Justice could take action under the antitrust laws as it considers necessary or desirable in the public interest, including seeking to enjoin the acquisition or seeking divestiture of the business or other assets acquired. Acquisitions that are not required to be reported under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act may be investigated by the Federal Trade Commission or the Department of Justice under the antitrust laws before or after completion. In addition, private parties may under certain circumstances bring legal action to challenge an acquisition under the antitrust laws.

        As part of its increased scrutiny of radio station acquisitions, the Department of Justice has stated publicly that it believes that commencement of operations under time brokerage agreements, local marketing agreements, joint sales agreements and other similar agreements customarily entered into in connection with radio station transfers prior to the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act could violate the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act. In connection with acquisitions subject to the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, so long as the Department of Justice policy on the issue remains unchanged, we would not expect to commence operation of any affected station to be acquired under a time brokerage agreement, local marketing agreement or similar agreement until the waiting period has expired or been terminated.

72