You know you’re in Washington when a non-elected agency Commissioner thanks its Chairman for a whole lot of assigned reading between now and Dec. 13.
Republican Michael O’Rielly took a moment before the Thanksgiving holiday to thank FCC Chairman Ajit Pai for circulating to all Commissioners the items for the Dec. 14 Open Meeting. And, he said, “I look forward to reading each one,” before commenting on his views on some of the key agenda items.
On the subject of net neutrality, which impacts both radio and TV broadcasters who stream programming, O’Rielly said, “The time has come to overturn the market disrupting net neutrality and common carrier regulations that sacrificed decades of precedent and the independence of the agency for political ends while doing nothing to protect actual consumers.”
He continued, “The Internet was a vibrant place of commerce and public discourse before the rules ever took effect and will continue to flourish after we discard this unnecessary and harmful regulatory overhang.”
O’Rielly looked forward to forward to reviewing the Chairman’s proposal, and “working together to ensure that the order contains the necessary legal and analytical foundations, including preemption, to implement sound policy and withstand the challenges that are certain to ensue.”
He then turned to the current 39% national TV ownership cap, and the controversial reinstatement of the “UHF discount” by the Commission.
“The National Television Ownership Cap item rightly recognizes what I have
consistently stated: that the 39% cap and UHF discount are intricately linked,” O’Rielly said. “The item we will vote on in December asks important questions on the Commission’s
authority to modify or eliminate either. While I have outlined my thoughts on the
authority to alter the cap and UHF discount, I support the Commission asking these
questions and look forward to seeing the issue be litigated out.”
RBR+TVBR
