FCC – Media & Communications Policy

April 28, 2026April 28, 2026 By Michael O'Rielly

Paramount Deal Doesn’t Trigger Foreign Ownership Concerns

After months of a publicly contested bidding war over the Warner Bros. Discovery assets, Paramount ultimately prevailed. The company now moves to the deal review and approval process with government officials, which will allow the transaction to close in full.

Then it can focus on delivering rich media content to consumers worldwide. One area that shouldn’t cause consternation among regulators is the foreign ownership aspects of Paramount’s financing package. From a Federal Communications Commission standpoint, this should either be a non-issue or require only a pro forma review.

March 17, 2026March 17, 2026 By Stuart N. Brotman

The Most Patriotic Thing Broadcasters Can Do for America’s 250th

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced his “Pledge America Campaign” in mid-February, urging broadcasters to air “patriotic, pro-America programming” in celebration of America’s 250th birthday this July 4. Among his suggestions: starting each broadcast day with “The Star-Spangled Banner” or the Pledge of Allegiance.

I have a better idea.

Before the anthem plays, before a single note of John Philip Sousa is aired, broadcasters should put 45 words on the screen – the words of the First Amendment. It would be the most patriotic thing they could do for America’s Semiquincentennial, and perhaps the most necessary.

March 4, 2026March 3, 2026 By Adonis Hoffman, Esq.

Making TV Great Again – Better Than Ever

Television is experiencing its most consequential and captivating period of the year, a span of several weeks that began with the Golden Globe Awards, Grammy Awards, the Super Bowl – the most watched event in the world – and continues through the Winter Olympics, March Madness, the Academy Awards (Oscars), and the World Cup.

It is a time when millions of Americans and those across the globe gather in front of their TV sets for must-see communal rituals, while thousands more have spent the last few weeks seeking the best buys on big-screen TVs to upgrade their home theaters. The annual January surge in TV sales is more than a seasonal trend; it is a tangible vote of confidence from consumers who see television as the undisputed hearth of the modern home.

February 17, 2026February 16, 2026 By Stuart N. Brotman

It’s Time for Patriots To Declare Themselves ‘Free Expression Warriors’

As America 250 unfolds this year, it’s a sure bet that the term “patriot” will be used more frequently to describe the brave fighters of the American Revolution and those who have followed in modern times.

In the past few years, that description has taken on multiple meanings, often viewed through ideological lenses. Historically a term of national unity, “patriot” is now frequently used as a wedge to separate “true” Americans from those with differing political views.

February 1, 2026January 27, 2026 By Michael O'Rielly

Why I ‘Chose’ The Media Institute

Career paths can be carefully mapped or unexpectedly presented. In this case, the role called me. Late last year, it became clear that The Media Institute (TMI) – an organization I admire for its honorable mission and pivotal functions – needed a new leader, as its legendary head, Rick Kaplar, was ready to reduce his workload.

At that point, my hand reflexively rose to help steer TMI’s future, alongside an able Board of Trustees, with the respectful goal of preserving its high notes while addressing any shortcomings. To be clear, my aim is to maintain TMI at its current level of effectiveness while recognizing the demands of a changing media environment. The historic time and energy invested in TMI’s triumphs deserve no less.

October 16, 2025October 16, 2025 By Adonis Hoffman, Esq.

TV Consolidation – A Moat Against Extinction

Broadcast television, once the unquestioned center of American life, now stands at the edge of obsolescence. What was once a cultural hearth has been pushed to the margins by streaming, cord-cutting, “cord-nevers,” and the algorithmic dominance of Big Tech. Viewers have migrated, advertisers have followed, and revenue models that once sustained thousands of stations are eroding at an accelerating pace.

The uncomfortable truth is that fragmentation has become fatal. American broadcasters, still bound by ownership rules written for another era, are ill-equipped to compete against digital behemoths that operate without limits. Unless policymakers, regulators, and industry leaders embrace consolidation, the medium that has long been free, universal, and trusted risks being reduced to a relic of a bygone era.

September 18, 2025October 22, 2025 By Adonis Hoffman, Esq.

The Future of Conservative Media

The slaying of conservative activist and media personality Charlie Kirk as he spoke at a campus rally in Utah was a tragedy on many levels: the wrenching of a devoted family man from his wife and young children; the fatal silencing of a speaker in a nation where freedom of speech is a constitutional guarantee; and a manifestation of the increasingly brutal partisanship gripping this country.

This senseless killing also has drawn newfound attention to the environment in which Charlie Kirk thrived – the catalyst that propelled him to the forefront of a movement, making him a hero to millions and a public figure to all: conservative media.

June 26, 2025June 25, 2025 By Guest Author Anna Gomez

Government’s Unprecedented Threat to the First Amendment

Our current political moment poses challenges unlike anything I thought I would face as an FCC Commissioner. This Administration has been on a campaign to censor and control since, well, before day one. And since day one the FCC has been implementing the will of this Administration and undermining the First Amendment at every turn.

The First Amendment has protected our fundamental right to speak freely and to hold power to account since 1791. It is foundational to our democracy. Today, the greatest threat to that freedom is coming from our own government.

March 21, 2025March 19, 2025 By Michael O'Rielly

Bringing Forbearance to Video Services

The communications sector is beset by layers upon layers of unnecessary government burdens. While visible in many areas, obsolete policies fastened to traditional video providers – some of which were chiseled over 40 years ago – are clearly ready for the delete button.

Yet, erasing outdated regulations, even if there’s universal agreement, takes massive amounts of time and Herculean effort to overcome the procedural hoops and eventual court challenges. That’s unacceptable in today’s very fluid and competitive video marketplace.

March 13, 2025March 13, 2025 By Guest Author Curtis LeGeyt

Local Broadcasters Need Level Playing Field To Compete, Innovate, Serve the Public

America’s broadcasters are beacons of our democracy. Every day, they exercise their First Amendment right to report, inform, and help citizens understand the issues that affect their daily lives.

And let’s face it: This is a challenging time to be a broadcast journalist. As the truth competes with falsehoods on social media and political polarization gets the headlines, exercising our First Amendment right to inform the public and provide the facts has never been more challenging – or essential.