Trusty Highlights Broadcasters' Public Interest Role

RADIO ONLINE | Monday, April 20, 2026 | 4:46pm CT

FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty

At the NAB Show 2026, FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty outlined her vision for how broadcasters can fulfill the long-standing "public interest" standard, emphasizing localism, accountability and the need for updated policies in a rapidly evolving media landscape.

In remarks titled "Finding the Angel of the Public Interest," Trusty drew on historical context, referencing a 1998 speech by former FCC Chairman Michael Powell, who once described searching for an "angel" to define the public interest. Trusty said that while no such figure emerged, the concept remains central to broadcasting today.

She explained that the public interest standard is rooted in the Communications Act and shaped by FCC rules, covering a wide range of obligations-from technical requirements and business practices to content-related rules such as sponsorship identification, emergency alerts, and restrictions on indecent programming.

Trusty highlighted several longstanding duties, including the "equal opportunities" rule requiring broadcasters to provide comparable access to political candidates, as well as the importance of localism. She noted that stations must serve the needs of their communities and retain the ability to preempt network programming when local or national issues demand it.

She also pointed to the role of broadcasters in delivering critical information, particularly during emergencies, and emphasized their value as a free, universally accessible medium. Local stations, she said, remain essential for news, weather coverage, and community-focused programming that reflects local concerns.

Addressing the modern media environment, Trusty acknowledged growing competition from streaming services, podcasts and digital platforms that are not bound by the same regulatory obligations. She argued that because broadcasters accept public interest responsibilities as part of their licenses, the FCC must ensure policies allow them to remain competitive and financially viable.

Trusty identified three core policy goals guiding FCC decision-making: promoting competition, ensuring diversity of voices, and supporting localism. She suggested that some legacy regulations may need to be revisited or eliminated to better align with today's marketplace.

She also raised concerns about the migration of major sports programming to subscription-based streaming platforms, noting that such shifts could limit public access to widely shared cultural events. Maintaining free, over-the-air availability of key programming, she said, remains in the public interest.

Looking ahead, Trusty stressed the importance of strengthening broadcasters' ability to innovate, including through technologies such as ATSC 3.0, while continuing to uphold transparency and trust. She noted that local broadcasters still rank highly in public trust but face financial pressures and new challenges, including misinformation amplified by digital platforms.

Concluding her remarks, Trusty suggested that broadcasters themselves may ultimately serve as the "angels of the public interest," acting as trusted messengers for their communities-provided the FCC establishes the right policy framework to support them.

She said achieving that balance will require continued collaboration between regulators and the industry to ensure broadcasters can both compete effectively and maintain their commitment to serving the public.