Commissioner Trusty NAB Show Remarks

Historically, when evaluating structural rules such as broadcast ownership limits through a public interest lens, the Federal Communications Commission has focused on three core policy objectives: promoting competition, ensuring a diversity of voices, and supporting localism. Without commenting on specific proceedings that may come before me at the Commission, I can share a few general thoughts about how I’m currently thinking about these issues:

1. Competition: Consumers today have more choices for audio and video content than ever before. The FCC’s responsibility is to continue supporting that level of competition and innovation. That includes ensuring a level playing field and being cautious about regulatory approaches that might focus too narrowly on certain forms of competition while overlooking the broader competitive environment broadcasters face.
2. Diversity of Voices: Many broadcast TV stations carry network programming created at the national level. But local broadcast licensees ultimately remain responsible for the content they broadcast. Ensuring that local stations have both the incentive and the ability to reflect the voices of their local communities, alongside national programming, is an important part of the discussion.
3. Localism: Some critics argue that policies designed to strengthen broadcasters economically could undermine localism. I think that debate is worth having. But I also see reasons for optimism.