The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has reportedly adopted a controversial order that would quicken billionaire George Soros’ acquisition of 200+ radio stations across the United States.
The decision, determined by a partisan vote, would bypass a standard review process as the 2024 election approaches.
“Last week, the FCC adopted an order to approve his purchase of more than 200 radio stations in 40 markets just weeks before the presidential election. The stations reach more than 165 million Americans, and staff at the FCC are concerned that the move is politically motivated,” Mario Nawfal noted, citing the New York Post.
“The commission’s three democrats voted for the move, while the two republicans voted against it. Under existing FCC rules, foreign company ownership of U.S radio stations is not supposed to exceed 25%,” he continued.
“Soros took foreign investment to make his bid and then filed a request for the commission to make an exception to the usual review process. The decision to fast-track the approval process bypassed a national security review, which could have taken up to a year to complete,” he added.
FCC FAST-TRACKS SOROS’ BID TO DOMINATE THE AIRWAVES
Last week, the FCC adopted an order to approve his purchase of more than 200 radio stations in 40 markets just weeks before the presidential election.
The stations reach more than 165 million Americans, and staff at the FCC… pic.twitter.com/9t1BsqRvo6
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) September 24, 2024
From the New York Post:
Soros, 93, pumped $400 million into Audacy in February to take control of the network, which includes a handful of conservative shows from hosts including Sean Hannity, Dana Loesch, Mark Levin, Glenn Beck and Erick Erickson.
But their influence could be muted as Soros takes over and imposes his agenda — as has happened with other media acquisitions.
A source with knowledge of the deal told The Post: “The idea that George Soros is buying hundreds of local radio stations right before a national election and will keep broadcasting Sean Hannity and other conservative talk radio hosts on Audacy is not credible.”
Carr previously told The Post: “The FCC should not create a special Soros shortcut… the FCC needs to run its full and normal review process.”
FCC approves order to fast-track George Soros’ purchase of over 200 radio stations: reporthttps://t.co/pv53mJojRp
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) September 25, 2024
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr discussed the issue with Glenn Beck.
WATCH:
George Soros is buying up HUNDREDS of radio stations before the election and @BrendanCarrFCC confirms the FCC is HELPING him: “We have a very clear process… to review the foreign ownership at issue here… the FCC Commission, for the very first time ever, has SKIPPED that… pic.twitter.com/E3gJ7hWMjI
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) September 24, 2024
WATCH:
The FCC just fast-tracked George Soros’ purchase of 220+ radio stations before November’s election.
The stations reach 165M Americans.
This has never been done before. pic.twitter.com/B9PismtYhU
— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) September 24, 2024
Per Fox News:
An FCC spokesperson told Fox News Digital that “no decision is final until the Commission releases it, which we have not.”
“The Commission has a long-standing process for reviewing transactions that involve emergence from bankruptcy,” the spokesperson added, noting that the application before the Commission pertains to a transfer from Audacy in bankruptcy, to Audacy post-bankruptcy.
Some inside the FCC object to the notion the move was some sort of shortcut or “fast-tracked” for Soros, pointing to a similar process used to under the previous administration in the bankruptcy proceedings of Cumulus Media in 2018, iHeart Media in 2019, Liberman Television in 2019, Fusion Connect in 2019, Windstream Holdings in 2020, America-CV Station Group in 2021, and Alpha Media in 2021.
However, Trump-nominated Commissioner Nathan Simington blasted the process and said it was, indeed, fast-tracked.
“The FCC has a practice of permitting entities temporarily to exceed foreign ownership caps when emerging from bankruptcy—and the majority, over my objection, did so here. But that wasn’t the only way in which this item was ‘fast-tracked,’” Simington told Fox News Digital.
“Commission leadership tried to approve the item at the staff level, with nothing but a 48-hour notice to Commissioners on a summer Friday. There is almost no factual record on the item because there was almost no attempt to do a real public interest analysis,” Simington continued. “Not a single Commissioner outside of the Chairwoman was invited to even think about the issue until staff was directed to handle it on our behalf without our votes. That’s the true ‘fast-track.’”
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at 100 Percent Fed Up.
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