FCC Sued over 'Questionable' Newsroom Study
The government watchdog group Judicial Watch says it has filed suit against the Federal Communications Commission for access to "any and all records" pertaining to an FCC pilot study of how the news media make editorial decisions concerning story coverage.
The FCC announced the nationwide study in May 2013, claiming it would "ascertain the process by which stories are selected... perceived station bias...and perceived responsiveness to underserved populations."
But one critic, House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-Mich., called the study an "attempt to control the free speech of journalists," and the National Association of Broadcasters called it "constitutionally questionable."
The FCC suspended the study in February, but President Barack Obama resurrected the issue of government regulation of the Internet this week when he announced his support for "net neutrality," giving the FCC the theoretical power to impose regulations on Internet prices and products, effectively running overseeing the Internet as if it were a utility.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, called it "Obamacare for the Internet."
Judicial Watch has filed requests under the Freedom of Information Act to determine the scope of the FCC's original plans to monitor newsrooms, but those requests have been denied.
Judicial Watch responded with the lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (Judicial Watch v. Federal Communications Commission).
"It's little wonder that Reporters Without Borders' recent survey of world press freedom ranked the United States 46th, below even that of Botswana and Romania -- and only one position above Haiti," Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said.
"The FCC now says it has killed the study," he continued. "But we are skeptical -- especially since we now have had to sue in federal court to get information on this issue."
Fitton added, "This FCC scandal also echoes the Obama IRS abuse, which illegally targeted groups and individuals based on their political philosophy. The FCC, which is charged with making sure regulated media companies obey the law, refuses to obey the Freedom of Information Act and tell the American people why it wanted to interrogate newsmen and monitor the blogs of everyday citizens."
