FCC Approval of George Soros' Radio Acquisition Sparks Controversy

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved a deal that would allow liberal billionaire George Soros to acquire over 200 Audacy radio stations, raising concerns among some officials.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has approved a deal that would allow George Soros, a well-known liberal philanthropist, to acquire over 200 Audacy radio stations in the United States. This decision has raised concerns among Republican members of the FCC, who claim that this move was fast-tracked and could have serious implications for the media landscape.

According to the New York Post, the FCC approved the deal last week in a partisan vote, with three Democratic commissioners voting in favor and two Republican commissioners voting against it. The deal involves a Soros-backed group purchasing Audacy, which owns radio stations in 40 markets across the country, with the potential to reach over 165 million Americans.

FCC Approval of George Soros' Radio Acquisition Sparks Controversy

Under current FCC regulations, foreign companies are not permitted to own more than 25% of US radio stations. However, Soros' group reportedly utilized foreign investment to make its bid and requested an exception to the usual review process, which can take up to a year or longer to complete.

The FCC's decision to approve the deal without first conducting a national security review is unprecedented, according to FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington. Simington has expressed concerns that Soros' ownership of these radio stations could give him undue influence over American media and potentially shape the political discourse.

FCC Approval of George Soros' Radio Acquisition Sparks Controversy

"The FCC has a practice of permitting entities temporarily to exceed foreign ownership caps when emerging from bankruptcy," Simington said. "But that wasn't the only way in which this item was 'fast-tracked.'"

Simington alleges that the FCC leadership attempted to approve the deal at the staff level without consulting the commissioners, which he believes is a clear violation of procedure.

FCC Approval of George Soros' Radio Acquisition Sparks Controversy

"There is almost no factual record on the item because there was almost no attempt to do a real public interest analysis," Simington said. "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."

Commissioner Brendan Carr, the senior Republican on the FCC, has also expressed concerns about Soros' acquisition of Audacy. Carr believes that the FCC should not be "creating this special Soros shortcut" and that the deal could have significant implications for conservative talk radio.

FCC Approval of George Soros' Radio Acquisition Sparks Controversy

"This Soros-backed group is looking to buy the second-largest radio station group in the country… some of them are in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Florida," Carr said on Fox News Channel's "The Ingraham Angle." "The vast majority are probably music or sports, but there are a handful in those states that carry conservative talk radio."

"There is a concern," Carr added. "The FCC should not be creating this special Soros shortcut."

Soros, a prominent supporter of Democratic causes, handed over control of his political empire to his son, Alex, last year. However, his organizations continue to exert significant financial influence, including millions of dollars aimed at flipping Texas to Democrats.

The FCC's approval of Soros' Audacy acquisition has raised important questions about the role of foreign investment in American media and the potential impact on the political landscape. The deal is still subject to a national security review, which could potentially delay or even block its completion.