House Oversight Republicans Probe FCC on Audacy Foreign-Ownership Review Delay Request
House Oversight Committee GOP leaders said Thursday night they launched an investigation into the FCC’s handling of radio group Audacy’s request for a temporary waiver of FCC foreign-ownership rules to complete a bankruptcy restructuring that includes George Soros-affiliated entities purchasing its stock. Panel Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., and Rep. Nick Langworthy, R-N.Y., claim the FCC’s expected approval of Audacy’s request (see 2409170015) represents a politicization of the review process just more than one month before the Nov. 5 presidential election. Langworthy briefly raised the issue during a House Oversight hearing earlier this month (see 2409190063).
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“The FCC appears to be bypassing standard processes and procedures” in its Audacy review so that Soros, “a Democrat megadonor,” can acquire a stake in the radio group’s stations, Comer and Langworthy said in a letter to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. An FCC official confirmed that all three FCC Democrats have voted for the item, while Republican Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington are expected to dissent (see 2409170015). The order would delay the foreign-ownership rules review until after the proposed bankruptcy restructuring rather than fully bypass it as some Republicans claim. It's expected that the FCC will formally release the Audacy order this week (see 2409250051).
“By all appearances, the FCC majority isn’t just expediting, but is bypassing an established process to do a favor for [Soros] and facilitate his influence over hundreds of radio stations before the November election,” House Oversight GOP leaders told Rosenworcel in the letter. Soros “will ultimately become a ‘major’ shareholder” in Audacy after it emerges from bankruptcy, which concerns Republicans because he “has sought to consolidate control over the airwaves.” The lawmakers cited Soros’ recent investments “in podcast platforms" and purchases of "radio stations in major media markets, which [have] ramifications for what Americans hear and influences political dialogue in this country.”
House Oversight “seeks documents and communications to assist the Committee in understanding the FCC’s actions in this matter and the impact of its decisions, and whether legislation is necessary to guard against politicization of the FCC’s mission,” Comer and Langworthy wrote. They want an FCC response by Oct. 3, including providing “all documents and communications related to any FCC action, including any interim or final action, taken with respect to radio station licenses associated with Audacy” or Soros.
The Stephen Miller-led America First Legal Foundation, a litigation nonprofit, also began probing the FCC’s Audacy review Thursday. It filed a Freedom of Information Act request seeking documents related to the proceeding and whether the commission has similarly delayed national security examinations in other cases. Miller was an adviser to former President Donald Trump.
The FCC received the House Oversight Republicans’ letter “and will respond as we regularly do,” a spokesperson said. “No decision is final until the Commission releases it, which we have not.” An FCC official cautioned that the expedited review process isn't unprecedented and said the FCC took “an additional step in the process,” seeking a full commission vote instead of delegating action to the Media Bureau. This was done at the request of Senate Commerce Committee ranking member Ted Cruz, R-Texas (see 2408150047). Audacy’s proposal “would not” transfer any of the group’s station licenses to Soros, who would “be a major shareholder," but not "the owner,” the official said. Audacy and House Oversight ranking member Jamie Raskin, D-Md., didn’t comment.