October 03, 2008

By By Jeffrey Yorke, R&R

The attorney general of the State of New York will file suit against Arbitron to stop the company's rollout of PPM in the Empire State. Andrew Cuomo alleges that Arbitron has engaged in "unlawful and deceptive acts and practices" in connection with "the marketing and planned commercialization in New York of the Portable People Meter ("PPM") methodology."

In a three-page letter sent to Arbitron president CEO Stephen Morris and the company's top lawyer, Timothy Smith, Cuomo accuses Arbitron of creating "the misleading impression" that PPM methodology is "fair, reliable and fully represents the diversity of New York radio markets" among other charges. He also charges that the company has attempted to launch PPM "without addressing methodological flaws which disparately impacts racial and ethnic minorities" a violation of New York Civil Rights Law.

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