In November, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr expressed his wish to “take a very hard look” into Audacy’s new ties to billionaire George Soros. Carr appears to be making good on those plans, as House Republicans will reportedly receive an update on an FCC investigation today.
The Republican Study Committee, led by Representative August Pfluger (R-TX), will host Carr at its annual closed-door lunch, according to a source familiar with the planning. The RSC, the largest caucus within the House GOP, has played a key role in shaping conservative policy and has served as a platform for Trump administration officials engaging with lawmakers this year.
At that meeting, FOX News says Carr is expected to brief GOP lawmakers on an FCC probe into Soros and his influence on local radio. This includes a look at Laurel Tree Opportunities Corporation’s acquisition of more than 40% of Audacy’s senior debt during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring.
House Republicans have raised concerns that FCC approval of Laurel Tree’s Audacy stake may have been politically motivated due to its connections to the Soros-backed Fund for Policy Reform.
At the time, Carr called the approval process “unprecedented,” claiming it bypassed standard procedures. Then-Chair Jessica Rosenworcel defended the decision, stating it followed the same process used in previous media bankruptcies, including Cumulus Media, iHeartMedia, and Alpha Media.
Audacy is not the only major radio broadcast company that Carr has taken an interest in. Earlier this week, he initiated an inquiry into iHeart’s compensation practices for artists performing at their events. He requested detailed information on the upcoming iHeartCountry Festival to ensure compliance with federal payola regulations, emphasizing the FCC’s commitment to enforcing these laws.
A recent FCC Enforcement Advisory warned radio stations about requiring artists to perform at events for free or at a reduced rate in exchange for favorable airplay.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is a biased, shameful, political hack who is there for one reason only: he was appointed by Trump to carry out Trump’s obsession with “revenge” against anyone who Trump dislikes. Trump promised “retribution” if he regained power and now, in an unhinged lust to “get even” with anyone in the media who dared to question or criticize him, the convicted felon and a person accused of sexual assault and/or rape by at least 25 different women is now using Carr to slander, threaten, intimidate and harass those media outlets and individuals whom Trump thinks of as “enemies.” We The People can’t sit back and just watch this unconstitutional assault on our fundamental freedoms go unanswered. If we allow Carr to abuse his office and attack a free press, we will be on the road to a very different country—one that could eventually look like Putin’s Russia, a place that Trump is obviously very fond of.
While Carr and Trump and their enablers undoubtedly know that the courts would ultimately rule against such attempts to censor or shut down reporters and media outlets they dislike, they also realize that they can STILL use such threats to intimidate, harass, and pressure people to “self censor.” Trump and Carr can also file meritless lawsuits and force the people they dislike to spend exorbitant sums to fight them. And, with January 6th in mind, Trump and Carr can effectively incite their most unhinged and violent followers to act out against those who criticize them. All of this makes “self censorship” that much more likely. It’s vile, it’s unconstitutional and it’s an attack on what all Americans value; the right to speak and write critically about anything or anyone in public life, regardless of how rich or powerful they might be.
Whether I agree or disagree with any particular media outlet, or publication, or TV or radio station, or any individual journalist or commentator, is irrelevant; I would STILL fight passionately for the freedom of my fellow Americans to speak and write freely, with absolutely no governmental pressure or intimidation. It’s beyond despicable and completely un-American for ANYONE to try and stop freedom of speech or freedom of the press or media. The fact that this is happening is reprehensible. And we all have to unite to preserve our freedoms, while we still can. NO ONE is going to muzzle our right to free speech and freedom to write and broadcast what we choose!
The NAB thinks the FCC is going to loosen ownership laws so companies can buy more stations. But THIS is really what this FCC is about. Investigating radio companies and private citizens so they can make it more difficult for radio to stay in business. Carr also wants to get congress to pass the new music royalty so broadcasters have to pay record labels for music. The FCC is not your friend.
The FCC is the friend of the public. And the public OWNS the airwaves. Somehow you don’t seem to get that. Station operators are limited-time operators of licenses. And if they don’t like the rules or what the FCC is doing, they are always free to sell their license- subject to FAA approval- or to turn in their license.
You realize the FCC is selling the public’s airwaves to telecom? Did they ask your permission? Nobody asked me. But that’s what’s happening. Carr plans to have a big sale this year. The public doesn’t own the airwaves. The government owns them. Radio companies get licenses from the government, not the public. This is a case where the government is seeking to prevent a private citizen from investing in a radio company.
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