FCC's O'Rielly: Careful What You Wish For

A National Association of Broadcasters request for the Federal Communications Commission to launch a National Broadcast Plan may not be in the industry’s best interests -- at least not according to Commissioner Michael O’Rielly.

“I worry what could be in parts of such a plan for your business,” said O’Rielly, one of the two Republican FCC commissioners. Commissioner O’Rielly suggested that broadcasters think twice before opening the door for a review by the same commissioners who recently voted to crack down on joint sales agreements, “the same people who just decided things that were against your interests.”

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler said the agency would conduct such a review, if Congress mandated and funded it. That was a sentiment his two Democratic colleagues -- Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel -- subsequently shared.