Around the Water Cooler
Simington’s other parting words; businessman indicted for harassing public radio journalists; tough times for new Paramount board
Before Nathan Simington walked out the door at the Federal Communications Commission on Friday, he made the rounds (or was he channeling his 31-year-old chief of staff Gavin Wax?) advocating for changing the ownership cap and regulating online video like cable. So, we have an honest question: How will changing the ownership cap help the little guys in community broadcasting? Because we don’t see it and neither do the folks at Oxenford.
UPDATE: The FCC revoked a pair of radio licenses in Texas and then rescinded the action on June 4.
The New York Times reported this week (paywall) that a New England businessman indicted for harassing journalists at New Hampshire Public Radio. According to the Times, the grand jury found that the businessman “had ‘devised a scheme to harass and terrorize’ a female reporter and the other victims. The indictment said the businessman had instructed another man to arrange for the [journalists’] homes to be vandalized and paid him $20,000, at least some of which the other man used to pay men he enlisted to carry out the vandalism.”
According to the Hollywood Reporter, new board members at Paramount have their work cut out for them in relation to Trump’s lawsuit and the merger review at the FCC.
This FCC Actions Alert is produced by the volunteers at the Community Media Assistance Project under the direction of CMAP Executive Director, Betty McArdle. We monitor many sources of information about the Federal Communications Commission, federal communications law, and community developments important to your station and your community. The information provided in this newsletter is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or legal advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any decisions based on the content herein. If you have a news tip, please email us at betty@c-map.org.
Communications Act of 1934, Sect. 326.
Nothing in this Act shall be understood or construed to give the Commission the power of censorship over the radio communications or signals transmitted by any radio station, and no regulation or condition shall be promulgated or fixed by the Commission which shall interfere with the right of free speech by means of radio communication.