The Federal Communications Commission quietly decided Friday to delay a development that would bring internet to rural communities.
The decision has been slammed by Commissioner Brendan Carr as “the worst abuse of agency process I’ve seen in my twelve years working at the FCC.”
Dish Chairman and longtime Democratic donor Charlie Ergen was given three more years to bring service to the U.S.’s most remote communities by the FCC last week — without any input from public or internal FCC officials.
“I’ve never heard of the FCC granting this kind of relief with no process, no public input, and no heads up,” Carr told The Post.
“Democrats at the helm of the FCC cut a secret, backroom deal — which kept Republican FCC Commissioners and possibly others in the dark — and then opened the door Friday afternoon.”
The move comes just two days after the FCC approved a controversial fast-tracked deal by left-wing billionaire George Soros to acquire a radio station that reaches more than 165 million Americans, The Post has learned — a move that insiders also denounced as political. .
On Wednesday, the FCC imposed an order approving Soros’ purchase of more than 200 radio stations in 40 markets just weeks before the presidential election, sources told The Post.
The FCC’s decision came after a partisan vote with three commission democrats voting for the move while two republicans voted against it, sources added.
Under existing FCC rules, foreign corporate ownership of US radio stations cannot exceed 25%. Soros took foreign investments to make the offer and then made a submission asking the commission to make an exception to the usual review process, according to public documents.
The FCC’s decision to fast-track the deal marks the first time in modern history that a deal has been approved by the full Commission without first going through a national security review process—a process that can take a year or more.
Soros’ group says it will return to the FCC at some point in the future to go through the process.
Soros, 93, poured $400 million into Audacy in February to take control of the network, which includes a number of conservative shows from hosts including Sean Hannity, Dana Loesch, Mark Levin, Glenn Beck and Erick Erickson.
But their influence can be muted when Soros takes over and enforces his agenda – as has happened with other media acquisitions.
A source familiar with the deal told The Post: “The idea that George Soros bought hundreds of local radio stations before a national election and would continue to broadcast Sean Hannity and other conservative radio hosts on Audacy is unbelievable.”
Carr previously told The Post: “The FCC should not be making a special Soros shortcut … The FCC should open a full, normal review process.”
Meanwhile, Ergen’s review was accelerated faster than Soros’ – he was given the green light just two days after making his request.
On Wednesday Ergen asked the FCC to cancel a deadline requiring satellite provider Dish EchoStar to provide coverage to 75% of the US by June 2025 to 2028.
And in an unprecedented move, the FCC okayed that request without asking for any input from the public and without a vote by the Commission.
An analyst for the trade publication Fierce Wireless called the move “possibly a record speed for the agency” to issue a request.
The Post previously reported on Ergen’s special treatment from the DOJ and how his political contributions were seen as a way to curry favor with key administration officials.
In the past year, Ergen and his wife have donated more than $200,000 to Harris and the Democratic National Convention, records show.
In a statement to The Post, a Dish spokesperson said: “It is a matter of record that EchoStar and Charlie Ergen have supported both Republicans and Democrats over the years.”
“The updated FCC framework allows EchoStar to optimize and promote innovative coast-to-coast developments, while more efficiently using the network in new areas of the country.
“EchoStar’s continued pricing and innovation in the wireless market is a win for all American consumers.”
Meanwhile, an FCC spokesman said “no decision is final until the Commission releases it, which it has not yet done.”
A representative for Soros did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.
