Press Release
Free Press: FCC Reform Bill Will Gut Public Interest Standard
Contact: Timothy Karr, 201-533-8838
WASHINGTON -- On Wednesday, the House communications subcommittee will hold a hearing on a bill aimed at “reforming” the Federal Communications Commission.
The bill, introduced by subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.), would gut the agency’s merger review process, place strict limitations on the commissioners’ rulemaking authority, and eliminate the “public interest” as the standard by which the FCC is supposed to make its decisions.
Matt Wood, policy director of the Free Press Action Fund, made the following statement:
“This unnecessary bill would benefit giant corporations at the expense of consumers. The real heart of the legislation takes aim at gutting the FCC’s public interest standard, the foundation of the agency’s mission on behalf of the American people.
“Instead of using this as an opportunity to truly reform the FCC, to stop the revolving door or to halt industry capture, what Chairman Walden is selling as reform would tie the agency’s hands and prevent it from ensuring the public is represented on an even playing field with the biggest industry players.
“We urge members of Congress to focus on things that help all Americans, not just further the narrow interests of the few media giants that contribute the most in campaign donations.”
The bill, introduced by subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (R-Ore.), would gut the agency’s merger review process, place strict limitations on the commissioners’ rulemaking authority, and eliminate the “public interest” as the standard by which the FCC is supposed to make its decisions.
Matt Wood, policy director of the Free Press Action Fund, made the following statement:
“This unnecessary bill would benefit giant corporations at the expense of consumers. The real heart of the legislation takes aim at gutting the FCC’s public interest standard, the foundation of the agency’s mission on behalf of the American people.
“Instead of using this as an opportunity to truly reform the FCC, to stop the revolving door or to halt industry capture, what Chairman Walden is selling as reform would tie the agency’s hands and prevent it from ensuring the public is represented on an even playing field with the biggest industry players.
“We urge members of Congress to focus on things that help all Americans, not just further the narrow interests of the few media giants that contribute the most in campaign donations.”
