FCC Official Comes Under Fire for Past Statements

Federal Communications Commission Chief Diversity Officer Mark Lloyd is under fire from conservative media personalities because in the past he's written about the conservative dominance of talk radio. Lloyd's past policy recommendations include broadening the range of voices in the media and he advocated taxing commercial station owners to subsidize public broadcasters and local media. Lloyd has no authority to set policy at the FCC, and his appointment has drawn little reaction so far from companies. Nevertheless, his past statements have fueled an outcry among conservative commentators and lawmakers concerned that Lloyd's hiring signals the FCC will change rules to make it easier for interest groups unhappy with a local station's programming to threaten its license.

The Administration "is trying to stifle dissenting voices," said radio host Rush Limbaugh, discussing Lloyd with Fox News host Glenn Beck last month.

Some contend the concerns about Lloyd are overblown. "His writings, while tending to be liberal, aren't anything anyone regarded as radical or outside the mainstream," said David Honig, executive director of the nonpartisan group Minority Media and Telecommunications Council. "He's a midlevel staff member at the FCC. It doesn't come with a big corner office. He certainly doesn't set policy."