Digital Liberty Joins Coalition Urging FCC to Stand for Free Speech

By James Erwin

On September 8, 2025, Digital Liberty joined a coalition letter urging the Federal Communications Commission to avoid intervening in free-market negotiations between broadcast networks and affiliates.  

Conservatives have long stood for removing regulatory burdens in the telecommunications sector, which hurt broadcasters, consumers, and the public. Every attempt at regulating telecommunication networks is a disruption to the market and hurts the ability of broadcasters to compete on an even playing field. The FCC is best served by focusing their efforts on modernizing media regulations to eliminate outdated regulations, some of which date from during or even before World War II.  

Any efforts by the FCC that inhibit the free competition of broadcast networks can have immense consequences for local media as well as market efficiency. As many networks continue to disaffiliate from broadcasters, the decision for local networks to negotiate arrangements should be entirely left up to the parties involved. Any interference with such negotiations will not only harm local media in the immediate future but also will prevent any long-term investment in local media. 

Conservatives have long understood that free negotiation between private parties more often leads to fair outcomes. Government is best positioned to enforce contracts, not dictate their terms. Under Chairman Brendan Carr, the FCC is effectively getting government out of the way across industries—from media and broadband networks to the space economy. The coalition urges the FCC to avoid disrupting that success by dabbling in market distortions in the broadcast sector.  

Read the full letter here.