FCC Vote Draws Sharp Criticism from CWA and Allies

On August 6, CWA Secretary-Treasurer Ameenah Salaam (pictured above, center-right), NABET-CWA Local 52031 President Bantu Opiotennione (right of Salaam), and NABET-CWA President Charlie Braico (far right) joined activists from CWA, Free Press, and Reporters Without Borders in front of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) building in Washington, D.C., ahead of the Commission’s vote on removing the national television ownership cap. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr oversaw the vote, which resulted in a 2-1 decision in favor of removal, paving the way for Nexstar Media Group to acquire TEGNA, Inc. and potentially control 80% of the nation’s television market. 

The Commission's rule change is expected to bring on a wave of broadcast mergers, which would result in worker layoffs and shuttered newsrooms. NABET-CWA and others have argued before the FCC that increased consolidation of broadcast companies raises issues of media ownership and censorship.

You can find a brief video of NABET-CWA President Braico speaking at the protest on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok.

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This post originally appeared on cwa-union.org.