Lead Patriot

Right Leaning Commentary

FCC Approves Radio Deal of 200 Radio Stations
The Scoop

FCC Approves Radio Deal of 200 Radio Stations

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) made waves this week by approving a contentious license deal that grants billionaire George Soros control over more than 200 Audacy radio stations, an acquisition spanning 40 media markets. The decision to expedite the process without the typical national security review has drawn fierce criticism from Republican-nominated commissioners, marking an unprecedented move by the FCC.

According to Breitbart News, the FCC’s Democratic majority "fast-tracked" the approval of the deal, bypassing several layers of regulatory scrutiny usually required for such significant media acquisitions, especially when foreign investment is involved. Soros, a polarizing figure often associated with leftist causes, reportedly secured foreign funding to facilitate his bid for the radio stations. Critics argue that this step deviates from established procedures designed to safeguard national security and media ownership integrity.

This fast-tracked approval is the first time the commission has allowed such a large-scale transfer of broadcast licenses without undergoing a standard national security review, a process that typically takes up to a year or more. FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel defended the decision, arguing that the expedited process was not unusual, drawing comparisons to past media transactions that also sought to emerge from bankruptcy, such as Cumulus Media and iHeart Media.

Rosenworcel wrote, "The process we use to facilitate this license transfer is identical to the one recently used by the agency in the bankruptcy proceedings of Cumulus Media in 2018, iHeart Media in 2019, and other similar cases." She dismissed concerns as "cynical," claiming the commission's approach followed a clear precedent.

However, FCC Republican-nominated commissioners were not convinced. Brendan Carr, a vocal critic of the decision, slammed the move as “unprecedented” in a written statement. Carr emphasized that the commission had never before approved the transfer of such a significant number of broadcast licenses without adhering to the standard requirements outlined in federal law. He raised concerns that the deal bypassed both public comment and input from other federal agencies with expertise in national security.

Carr’s statement highlighted the absence of critical oversight, particularly regarding the foreign ownership component. "Did they obtain approval from the FCC for their excessive foreign ownership? No, they did not. Did the Applicants afford the Executive Branch agencies with national security and relevant policy expertise an opportunity to consider their application as well as the source and amount of foreign investment? No, they did not," Carr stated, underscoring the irregularities in the approval process.

Nathan Simington, another FCC commissioner, echoed Carr’s concerns, pointing out the inconsistency in the FCC’s approach. Simington noted that the commission often enforces stringent foreign sponsorship identification rules on small independent broadcasters, especially those airing local church content. Yet, in this case, it seemed eager to fast-track a billion-dollar deal without the same level of scrutiny. "Just saying," Simington quipped, underscoring the glaring double standard.

The controversy centers not only on the perceived lack of due diligence but also on the broader implications of media ownership in America. With Soros gaining control over a large swath of radio stations, many conservative voices are raising alarms about the potential impact on the media landscape. Audacy’s stations reach millions of listeners across diverse markets, and critics argue that this consolidation of media power under a figure like Soros could shift the balance of political influence in a direction that aligns with his progressive agenda.

Written by Arthur Higgens - October 1, 2024