FCC delay to rollout of internet in rural communities slammed as ‘worst abuse’ by commissioner

The Federal Communication Commission quietly decided Friday to delay a buildout that would bring internet to rural communities.

That decision has been slammed by Commissioner Brendan Carr as “the worst abuse of agency process I have seen in my twelve years of working at the FCC.”

Dish Chairperson and longtime democrat donor Charlie Ergen was given up to three more years to bring service to the most remote communities in the US by the FCC last week — without giving the public or internal FCC officials any input.

“I have never heard of the FCC granting relief like this with no process, no public input, and no heads up,” Carr told The Post.

“The Democrats in FCC leadership cut a secret, backroom deal—one that kept the Republican FCC Commissioners and perhaps others completely in the dark—and then hustled it out the door on a Friday afternoon.”

The move comes just two days after the FCC approved a controversial deal that fast-tracked left-leaning billionaire George Soros’ acquisition of radio stations that reach more than 165 million Americans, The Post has learned — a move that insiders have also slammed as political.

On Wednesday, The FCC adopted an order to approve Soros’ purchase of more than 200 radio stations in 40 markets just weeks before the presidential election, sources told The Post. 

The FCC decision came after a partisan vote with the commission’s three democrats voting for the move while the two republicans voted against it, sources added.

Under existing FCC rules, foreign company ownership of US radio stations is not supposed to exceed 25%. Soros took foreign investment to make his bid and then made a filing asking the commission to make an exception to the usual review process, according to public documents.

The FCC decision to fast-track his deal is the first time in modern history such a deal has been approved by the full Commission without first running the national security review process—a process that could take up to a year or more.

The Soros group says they will come back to the FCC at some point in the future to run that process.

Soros, 93, pumped $400 million into Audacy in February to take control of the network, which includes a handful of conservative shows from hosts including Sean Hannity, Dana Loesch, Mark Levin, Glenn Beck and Erick Erickson.

But their influence could be muted as Soros takes over and imposes his agenda — as has happened with other media acquisitions.  

A source with knowledge of the deal told The Post: “The idea that George Soros is buying hundreds of local radio stations right before a national election and will keep broadcasting Sean Hannity and other conservative talk radio hosts on Audacy is not credible.”

Carr previously told The Post: “The FCC should not create a special Soros shortcut… the FCC needs to run its full and normal review process.”

Meanwhile, Ergen’s review was expedited far faster than even for Soros — he was given the green light just two days after making his request.

On Wednesday Ergen asked the FCC to push back a deadline that required Dish’s satellite provider EchoStar to provide coverage to 75% of the US by June 2025 to as far back as 2028.

And in an unprecedented move, the FCC okayed that request without seeking any input from the public and without any vote by the Commission.

An analyst for trade publication Fierce Wireless called the move “possibly a speed record for the agency” in granting a request.

The Post previously reported on Ergen’s special treatment from the DOJ and how his political contributions have been seen as a way to curry favor with key administration officials.

Over the last year Ergen and his wife have donated more than $200,000 to Harris and the Democratic National Committee, records show.

In a statement to The Post, a Dish spokesperson said: “It’s a matter of record that EchoStar and Charlie Ergen have supported both Republicans and Democrats for many years.”

“The FCC’s updated framework enables EchoStar to optimize and enhance its innovative coast-to-coast buildout, while more efficiently deploying the network in new areas of the country.

“The pricing and innovation improvements from EchoStar’s continued presence in the wireless market is a win for all American consumers.”

Meanwhile an FCC spokesperson said “no decision is final until the Commission releases it, which we have not.”

A representatives for Soros did not respond to The Post’s requests for comment.