Boehner slams FCC for possibly 'running roughshod over local broadcasters'

House Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) provided some words of support for broadcasters who face tough regulatory fights at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and in Congress this year. 

"The last thing we need, in my view, is the FCC...potentially running roughshod over local broadcasters who have been serving their communities with free content for decades," he said in a speech Sunday to religious broadcasters, the Washington Times reports.

Boehner's comments come as TV stations face proposals asking them to relinquish their spectrum holdings and an FCC vote that could weaken their hand in negotiations with pay-TV providers.  

Boehner also slammed the FCC for getting too involved in the market by passing net-neutrality rules. 

"We see this threat in how the FCC is creeping further into the free market by trying to regulate the Internet," he said 

He said the GOP will forestall the resurrection of the Fairness Doctrine, although Democrats have not proposed to reinstate the policy. The Fairness Doctrine required broadcast licensees to provide "balanced" coverage.

"Our new majority is committed to seeing that the government does not reinstate the Fairness Doctrine," he said.

Boehner noted that Communications subcommittee Chairman Greg Walden (Ore.) "has teamed up with another former broadcaster, Congressman Mike Pence of Indiana, to introduce legislation to help keep the airwaves free. I expect the House to act on this measure as well."