Senators criticize FCC use of merger reviews and concessions amid high‑profile approvals
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Summary
Lawmakers questioned whether the FCC conditioned recent merger approvals on editorial or employment concessions, citing Paramount/Skydance and AT&T/US Cellular; Commissioner Gomez said she opposed such leverage and described the Paramount concession as unprecedented.
WASHINGTON — Committee members questioned whether the Federal Communications Commission has used merger approvals and settlement terms to extract non‑transactional concessions from media companies, a practice some senators and Commissioner Anna M. Gomez described as unprecedented and troubling.
Senator Maria Cantwell and others cited the FCC’s approval of the Skydance‑Paramount transaction and said the approval came after Paramount agreed to a $16 million settlement and policy changes; Gomez testified she opposed concessions that delve into private employment or editorial matters because they fall outside traditional merger remedies. She called the obligation to appoint an ombudsperson to police bias an unprecedented concession compared with past ombuds roles.
Republican senators argued the FCC must consider media ownership policy to empower local broadcasters and encourage investment. Chairman Carr said the commission’s public‑interest review walks through specific standards and remains guided by applicable law; he indicated the agency will exercise discretion within those rules.
Why it matters: Merger‑condition concessions that touch on editorial standards, employment policies or corporate governance raise constitutional and administrative concerns; senators and the commissioner urged clearer rules on the policeable scope of merger remedies.
