House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) approved an agreement that would give billionaire George Soros control of 200 radio stations despite national security concerns. He led a letter from House Republicans demanding answers about the FCC's decision to rush.
McMorris Rodgers and House Republicans sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, announcing that she and other Democratic appointees will be investigating more than 200 U.S. radio stations. , which was acquired by an FCC-backed fund. George Soros, a left-wing Democratic mega-donor in his 90s;
Audacy, the second largest radio company, has filed for bankruptcy. Audacy said in its filing that more than 25 percent of its stock is indirectly foreign-owned after a Soros-backed fund acquired at least 40 percent of Audacy's debt and could emerge from bankruptcy. It became clear that it would happen.
boldness appeared The FCC approves the radio station's license and emerges from bankruptcy.
This typically triggers an FCC review to assess national security concerns. But House Republicans say the FCC, led by Rosenworcel, has granted an exemption from the vetting process, “giving foreign countries control over a significant number of radio stations across the United States.”
“We are deeply concerned that the FCC has failed to comply with its regular orders for a transaction of this magnitude,” McMorris Rodgers and other House Republicans wrote in a letter to the FCC. “Licenses and investors need confidence that the FCC will follow its rules and procedures when approving transactions so that the broadcast industry has the resources it needs to continue serving the public.”
Lawmakers demanded answers about the process by which the FCC granted national security exemptions to Soros' contract.
The FCC's Republican-appointed commissioners called the deal “unprecedented” and said the agency has never authorized the transfer of such radio stations without following protocol in federal law. pointed out.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Kerr said In a written statement:
The Commission's decision today is unprecedented. that the Commission voted to approve the transfer of broadcast licenses, let alone the transfer of broadcast licenses for more than 200 radio stations across more than 40 markets, without following the requirements and procedures codified in federal law; has never happened before. Never. Nevertheless, the Commission today did not seek public comment on changes to established regulations, did not actually change the rules on the books, and did not seek feedback from other federal agencies with related stakes. Without even asking, we are exploring this new frontier.
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Federal law requires applicants with excessive foreign ownership to
If a petition for declaratory ruling is sought at the same time as seeking FCC approval for a related license transfer, that process must be completed before the FCC approves the license transfer, and the process allows the executive branch to comply with national security concerns. We need to be able to have specific policy expertise. Weigh.
FCC Commissioner Nathan Symington said “First, it must be pointed out that a committee intent on fast-tracking a $1 billion broadcast media restructuring, ignoring the concerns of foreign investors, has repeatedly returned to the well. It’s the same commission that has been enforcing” foreign sponsor identification rules on the smallest independent broadcasting license holders every time they broadcast local church content. I'm just saying. ”
10.07.24 Republican letter to FCC regarding foreign owned broadcast licenses
Sean Moran is a policy reporter at Breitbart News. Follow him on X @SeanMoran3
