Media Ownership Policy Perspectives for Conservatives

To gain insight into how conservatives might view media ownership policy, it’s crucial to consider the opposition’s stance. Recently, some have labeled President Trump and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr as “authoritarian” and “fascist,” exaggerations that have surfaced from Free Press, a left-leaning nonprofit group against reforms aimed at limiting broadcast station ownership.

A solid conservative agreement leans toward reforming or completely removing ownership restrictions. A letter, supported by 18 conservative organizations—including Heritage Action and Americans for Prosperity—underscores this point, reflecting a diverse coalition from MAGA supporters to Reagan conservatives.

Observing the commentary surrounding this issue reveals a pattern: those criticizing Trump tend to be largely disconnected from mainstream conservative thought.

Despite some uncertainty expressed in discussions about the White House and FCC’s decisions, conservatives don’t really need to speculate. It’s often the case that when left-leaning activists in Washington take a strong stance on an issue, aligning with them typically isn’t the right move.

It’s important to note that the influence of liberals is not as formidable as they might seem. For instance, Democratic FCC Chair Anna Gomez has signaled her opposition to repealing ownership caps, claiming her vote alone cannot prevent action as long as Republican appointees remain united. Yet, considering the left’s history of advocating for contentious policies, conservatives might pause to reflect on the wisdom of siding with them.

When the FCC last sought comments on this topic in August, several reports indicated that a variety of groups—labor unions and civil rights organizations among them—expressed strong discontent regarding any alterations to the existing 39% ownership cap. This collective opposition includes many who are, frankly, not fans of Trump.

For instance, organizations like the National Association of Broadcast Employees and the Writers Guild of America have sided with those wanting to maintain current ownership limits, warning against what they perceive as threats to the First Amendment.

Additionally, a collaborative filing to the FCC featured numerous left-leaning groups like the United Church of Christ and the National Action Network. Their argument against ownership cap removal centers on commitments to “economic justice” and equal representation, hinting at fears they harbor.

This discussion isn’t new territory; past FCC considerations have faced similar pushback, notably during the Trump administration. A letter opposing changes to media ownership rules was sent by a group of Senate Democrats and an independent, reflecting a longstanding liberal agenda.

Entities like Hollywood unions and activist groups often don’t align with sound policy decisions. Yes, sometimes even a broken clock is right, but in this scenario, skepticism is warranted about siding with those specific voices.