Austin News

U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Ranking Member Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has sent letters to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioners Brendan Carr and Nathan Simington following their Democrat colleagues' refusal to honor commitments made to Congress regarding George Soros’s acquisition of Audacy's nationwide radio network. Senator Cruz requested that the transaction be reviewed by the full Commission, including any order granting a waiver of the FCC’s foreign ownership rules.

In previous correspondence with FCC Democrat Commissioners Anna Gomez and Geoffrey Starks, Cruz emphasized that transferring Audacy’s licenses is a significant public interest matter requiring full Commission scrutiny rather than being approved by bureaucrats under delegated authority. Audacy, as the second-largest owner of broadcast stations in the nation, holds 225 stations across 46 markets. The applicants have admitted that foreign entities will hold substantial ownership interests exceeding federal law limits.

Despite assurances from Commissioners Gomez and Starks to vet significant transactions through a full Commission vote, both commissioners declined Cruz's procedural request for such a vote. They indicated a preference for allowing FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to resolve the matter through delegated authority. According to Cruz, this mirrors past procedural abuses seen in the Standard General-TEGNA transaction where an open vote was bypassed.

Senator Cruz wrote in his letter:

“On July 9, 2024, I sent letters to your colleagues, Commissioners Starks and Gomez, urging them to honor their commitments to Congress and insist that any approval of George Soros’s takeover of Audacy’s nationwide radio network be subject to a vote of the full Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Considering the large number of stations involved, the presence of foreign ownership interests in excess of limits specified in federal law, and the deal’s timing in the final run-up to the Presidential election, I argued that a thorough vetting by the full Commission was both an expected duty of the officeholder and necessary to protect the interests of American public."

Cruz further criticized Commissioners Gomez and Starks for avoiding accountability:

"Despite Commissioner Gomez’s sworn testimony that ‘commissioners should vote on matters of significant public interest,’ and Commissioner Starks’s commitment that he was ‘eager to work with me’ in ensuring that significant transactions are voted on by the full Commission, both commissioners refused to follow through on promises they made to Congress... Instead... letting faceless unelected bureaucrats who were not accountable... rubber-stamp [the deal] under delegated authority.”

Cruz asked Commissioners Carr and Simington whether they believe comprehensive vetting by the full Commission is necessary for this transaction.

BACKGROUND:

Under Audacy’s Chapter 11 reorganization plan, Soros Fund Management is set to become its largest shareholder post-bankruptcy. To facilitate this transition, Audacy has sought FCC approval for license transfers while requesting waivers on statutory foreign ownership limits.

Chairwoman Rosenworcel previously suggested bureau staff would review whether this transfer aligns with public interest under Section 310(d) of the Communications Act instead of holding a full Commission vote.

Senator Cruz's letters can be accessed [here](#) and [here](#).