WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, delivered the following opening statement at today’s hearing with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brendan Carr:  

Sen. Cantwell: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, thank you for convening this important oversight hearing, and I thank our witnesses for being here.

The FCC independence is central to protecting a free and diverse press, strengthening our national security and bringing down the cost of telecommunications and media services. However, what we've seen this year and the costs that Americans are facing -- prices are rising. The question is, what is the Chairman of the FCC -- and the FCC -- doing to bring down costs for consumers? The American people deserve an FCC that protects them from hidden fees and promotes affordability. The FCC, though, is, in my mind, doing just the opposite in allowing consolidations that reduces competition and can help drive up costs. Americans are paying more than ever for streaming, cable, and wireless services. Streaming costs are up 13 percent this year alone. Basic cable costs have more than doubled in the last 10 years, and Americans are paying more than almost any other country for wireless. And what is the FCC doing to help drive down those costs?

Congress passed bipartisan legislation to ensure transparency in billing, but Chairman Carr has proposed to punch holes in those rules to implement that. He's making it easier for big corporations to tack on hidden fees to your internet bills. I've even heard consideration by some groups saying that we should take away spectrum from broadcast television stations, because maybe they're not getting enough use, and maybe we should have even less competition. So it's clear to me that the FCC needs to do everything [it can] to protect consumers, including protecting them from the harms of AI.

So instead, I see an FCC that is not focused enough on affordability. That is why today we are releasing a Snapshot Report from the minority…talking about why consolidation and reduced competition is driving up costs. So hopefully we can ask some questions about that today and focus on what we need to do to keep local journalism, to keep broadcasting and to make sure that we don't have undue influence.

We now know that this issue, as related to Jimmy Kimmel, “the easy way or the hard way,” is just an example. And I certainly appreciate Chairman Cruz’s words saying it was “dangerous as hell” and “right out of Goodfellas.” But I also appreciate Leader Thune and former Majority Leader McConnell agreeing that this went too far.

The question is, how do we now make sure that we continue to have not so much consolidation? Because I know, Chairman Carr, you have supported consolidation that makes it easier to have influence and to have less competition. Local news and independent voices matter, and consolidation undermines that independence and drives up cost. What happens if a merger does take place and CBS and CNN are in the same boat? Are they going to continue to be the same competitive environment, or what will we do to make sure that consumers still have choice?

Earlier this year, Chairman Carr green lit the Skydance acquisition of Paramount, but not before Paramount agreed to pay $16 million in a lawsuit. Using the FCC process should not be used in this kind of extortion process, but to focus on what will drive down costs and help consumers in this process. People across the political spectrum agree there's too much control in a few hands. Chris Ruddy, CEO of Newsmax, has spoken about how corporate consolidation threatens local news. Chairman Carr, what are we doing to make sure that you are going to continue to protect local media ownership and grow this opportunity. We do not want to see content that is produced nationally for local broadcast.

I'm right now suffering from an unbelievable flood that has gone on for days and days. Today's latest challenge will be a blizzard. They are wall-to-wall with news for the safety of the citizenry of Washington. I would hate to see broadcast content interrupted or a station undermined to the point that they can't do their job in covering this unbelievable flood which is affecting every corner, almost every corner, of our state.

But beyond bringing down costs and protecting independent media, I am also concerned about safety. Chinese intelligence orchestrated Salt Typhoon attacks, which then Senator Rubio, Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, described as, “The most disturbing and widespread incursion into our telecommunication system in the history of the world.” That should have led the FCC to strengthen our defenses. Instead, Chairman Carr…you rolled back the FCC Salt Typhoon rules, the only major regulatory response to those attacks. And the rush to auction off critical spectrum, I believe, could undermine military readiness and aviation safety. Earlier this year, we wrote to Secretaries Duffy and Hegseth, outlining those concerns about safety.

So I hope that today's hearing can have the proper oversight on these important issues. What are we doing, not only to protect consumers from cost, but protect them on their safety and security? Mr. Chairman, it's an important time. Not all of these issues have happened in the last year, but clearly, we need to do our job in continuing to help the American consumer get information in a competitive landscape and also drive down costs.

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