While shareholders of Cumulus Media and Citadel Broadcasting have given their overwhelming approval to the merger of both companies, creating the second-largest radio ownership group, FCC Commissioner Michael Copps has voiced concern. He is a longtime critic of consolidation. Copps writes, "The wheels of media consolidation spin on. Today the Media Bureau approves the combination of Cumulus and Citadel, the number two and number three radio companies in the country, creating a media giant that will own more than 560 stations. Earlier this year we had the huge Comcast-NBCU transaction. Last week we learned of another large company buying up seven additional media outlets. Time after time and in market after market, there are fewer independent options and fewer local voices." Copps says that to approve the merger, the new combined company must divest itself of just 14 radio stations, and adds, "Applicants will put these stations in a trust pending sale to, hopefully, women and minority owners. But too often such stations just languish, unsold, in a trust. Just this month, in another proceeding, a petition to deny was filed as licenses in such a trust were being renewed after three-and-a-half years without being sold. Applicants also claim this merger will lead to additional funding for programming to serve local audiences, but chances are we won’t hold their feet to the fire if they fall short." You can read the complete statement by Copps here.