The Federal Communications Commission quietly decided Friday to delay construction work that would bring internet to rural communities.
The decision was denounced by Commissioner Brendan Carr as “the worst abuse of agency process I have seen in my 12 years at the FCC.”
Dish Chairman Charlie Ergen, a longtime Democratic donor, was given up to three years by the FCC last week to provide service to some of the most remote parts of the country, but he offered no input to the public or to officials inside the FCC.
“I've never heard of the FCC granting this type of relief without any process, public input or prior notice,” Carr told the Post.
“The FCC's Democratic leadership came to this agreement behind closed doors, without any knowledge of Republican FCC commissioners or likely other commissioners, and then rushed to announce it on Friday afternoon.”
The move, learned by The Washington Post, comes just two days after the FCC approved a controversial deal to expedite left-leaning billionaire George Soros's purchase of radio stations that reach more than 165 million Americans — a move that has also been criticized by insiders as being political.
On Wednesday, the FCC adopted an order approving Soros' acquisition of more than 200 radio stations in 40 markets, just weeks before the presidential election, sources told The Post.
The FCC's decision was a party-line vote, with three Democrats on the committee voting in favor and two Republicans voting against, according to people familiar with the matter.
Under current FCC rules, foreign companies cannot own more than 25 percent of a U.S. radio station. Soros received foreign investment in his bid and then filed papers with the FCC asking for an exception to the normal review process, according to public documents.
The FCC's decision to fast-track the deal marks the first time in modern history that a deal has been approved by the full commission without going through a national security review process, which could take more than a year.
The Soros group said it intends to return to the FCC at some point in the future to run that process.
Soros, 93, invested $400 million in Audacy in February, taking control of the network, which airs several conservative shows with hosts including Sean Hannity, Dana Loesch, Mark Levin, Glenn Beck and Erick Erickson.
But that influence could weaken if Soros gains power and imposes his own agenda, as has happened with other media acquisitions.
A source familiar with the deal told The Post: “The idea that George Soros would buy hundreds of local radio stations just before a national election and continue to broadcast Sean Hannity and other conservative talk show hosts on Audience is hard to believe.”
Carr previously told The Washington Post: “The FCC shouldn't create special shortcuts for Soros. The FCC needs to conduct its normal, full and proper vetting process.”
Meanwhile, Argen's review was carried out much more quickly than Soros's, with the green light given just two days after the request was made.
Ergen on Wednesday asked the FCC to extend until 2028 a deadline that requires Dish's satellite provider, EchoStar, to cover 75% of the U.S. by June 2025.
And in an unprecedented move, the FCC approved the request without seeking public comment or holding a committee vote.
An analyst at industry publication Fierce Wireless said the move “could set a new record for regulators in approving requests.”
The Post has previously reported that Mr. Ergen receives special treatment from the Justice Department and that his political donations are seen as a way to curry favor with key administration officials.
Records show that Mr. Ergen and his wife donated more than $200,000 to Ms. Harris and the Democratic National Committee last year.
“It is a matter of record that EchoStar and Charlie Ergen have long supported both Republicans and Democrats,” a Dish spokesperson said in a statement to The Washington Post.
“The FCC’s updated framework will enable EchoStar to optimize and strengthen its innovative nationwide build-out and more efficiently deploy its network in new areas of the country.
“EchoStar's continued presence in the wireless market will lead to improved pricing and innovation, a win for all American consumers.”
Meanwhile, an FCC spokesman said, “The decision is not final until the Commission makes an announcement, which the Commission has not yet made.”
A representative for Soros did not respond to The Washington Post's request for comment.
