october 21, 2015

ALG urges FCC not to add broadcast exclusivity rule to agenda

FAIRFAX, Va. – Americans for Limited Government President Rick Manning today issued the following statement responding to potential Federal Communications Commission (FCC) consideration of broadcast exclusivity rules at an upcoming Oct. 22 meeting:

"Consumers have more visual entertainment options at their disposal right now than at any time in history. Given this diversity of options, it makes absolutely zero sense for the FCC to even consider making changes to the exclusivity rules that ensures local broadcasters are able to operate in a fair, open and competitive marketplace under unique regulatory requirements.

"Let's be clear, there is no legitimate free market argument for the FCC to once again overstep its authority and throw local, over the air broadcasters, into a legal limbo by arbitrarily changing the exclusivity rule. This is particularly obvious when one remembers that local broadcasters are required to provide their product free of charge for public services as a requirement of their FCC issued broadcasting license.

"Americans for Limited Government strongly urges the FCC to take no action related to the broadcast exclusivity rules tomorrow or at any time in the future as it would be both another egregious legislative power grab by an administrative agency designed to pick winners and losers, and would harm the least affluent consumers who can't afford to pay thousands of dollars a year for television, and depend on free over the air broadcasting for news, weather and local happenings."

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