WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tuesday is poised to be a day full of activity across the Nation’s Capital, as Buddhist Monks who have walked from Fort Worth, Texas on a “Walk for Peace” conclude their journey at American University ahead of Wednesday events on the National Mall. On Capitol Hill, the most important hearing in more than two decades for broadcast television will be held concurrently.
And it is now known who will round out the roster of four witnesses that includes Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy and NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt.
Also appearing as witnesses at the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation full committee hearing titled “We Interrupt This Program: Media Ownership in the Digital Age” are Thomas Johnson, Partner and Co-Chair of Issues and Appeals at Wiley Rein LLP; and Steve Waldman, President of Rebuild Local News.
While the viewpoints of Ruddy and LeGeyt, respectively, are well-known and what they have to share tomorrow in the Russell Senate Office Building hearing room will not be surprising, just who are Johnson and Waldman?
AN EX-FCC REFORMER
Johnson is a former FCC General Counsel who joined Wiley Law in April 2021 as a Partner, serving as co-chair of the firm’s appellate practice. And, his presence along with that of LeGeyt could present Nexstar Media Group, TEGNA, and President Trump himself a stronger deck of cards in the legislative poker game playing out inside the Beltway to get a deal that presently runs afoul of ownership limits cleared for takeoff.
As FCC General Counsel, Johnson scored a professional victory by persuading the U.S. Supreme Court to review the Commission’s media ownership reforms, resulting in an April 2021 Third Circuit decision vacating those rules. Furthermore, Johnson defended the Commission’s “net neutrality” repeal under Ajit Pai’s leadership at oral argument before the D.C. Circuit.
In his time as the Commission’s chief legal officer, Johnson acted as its representative on legal issues with senior executives and counsel at major telecommunications, cable, broadcast, and satellite companies, as well as major trade associations.
Wiley Law partner Thomas Johnson’s achievements during his tenure at the FCC include:
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Defending the 2017 Restoring Internet Freedom Order at oral argument before the D.C. Circuit, which repealed the prior Administration’s “net neutrality” rules.
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Successfully petitioning the U.S. Supreme Court to review and unanimously affirm the Commission’s deregulation of outdated media ownership rules.
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Developing legal analysis for orders that streamlined state and local approvals for wireless infrastructure deployment, to promote the more rapid rollout of 5G services, which were affirmed in substantial part by the Ninth and D.C. Circuits.
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Formulating legal framework for the unique plan to clear portions of critical “C-band” spectrum for use in 5G services, which was affirmed by the D.C. Circuit.
Prior to serving as FCC General Counsel, Mr. Johnson was the Deputy Solicitor General in the Office of the West Virginia Attorney General.
SAVING THE LOCAL INFO VOICE
While Johnson is steeped with Washington legislative experience and is likely to advocate for swift approval of the TEGNA/Nexstar merger, what Steven Waldman will state could focus on the contention that less is not more — but a greater lack of diversity of voices.
His Rebuild Local News organization is devoted to saving and expanding local news. While advocates of deregulation state this will allow viewers to enjoy a greater number of newscasts and, thus, get more coverage of local, regional and statewide news, opponents state these newscasts will come from a singular source — eliminating viewpoints.
To be clear, Rebuild Local News’ focus has been on the newspaper industry and its 35-year decline in revenue and circulation, creating “news voids” companies such as Townsquare Media say they are filling but critics contend are “clickbait”-generating portals that don’t offer local news reports by journalists that go beyond pop culture and entertainment.
Waldman founded Rebuild Local News in 2020 and went independent from the GroundTruth Project in 2023. His resume includes stints as a journalist for Newsweek, U.S. News and World Report and Washington Monthly.
Its supporters include Microsoft, Knight Foundation, MacArthur Foundation and Ford Foundation.
