FCC Chairman Declares Readiness to Penalize Media Giants
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr indicated in a Monday interview that he is prepared to discipline prominent media firms if he and President Donald Trump deem their actions inappropriate.
The Wall Street Journal characterized Carr as a nonconformist, highlighting his adoption of Trump’s “showman instincts” to ensure accountability among broadcasters. Unlike his predecessors, who often hesitated to challenge major corporations, Carr expressed his willingness to revoke broadcast licenses from any outlet he believes has acted against the "public interest."
“Broadcast licenses are not beyond reproach,” Carr stated during the interview.
Having served at the FCC since 2017, Carr affirmed that the agency is “fully aligned with the mission President Trump has set forth.”
He articulated that Trump has influenced the government’s dealings with media firms, declaring, “President Trump directly confronted the mainstream media, shattering the illusion of their role as truth guardians.”
In response to accusations from Trump regarding Comcast’s, NBCUniversal’s parent company, alleged bias toward Democrats, Carr initiated two investigations into the corporation.
The FCC has been scrutinizing Comcast’s diversity initiatives. In April, Carr accused the NBC News and MSNBC parent company of “misleading the American public” through its portrayal of a prominent deportation case, according to the Journal.
In July, Carr announced that the FCC would assess the interactions between Comcast and NBC affiliates, questioning whether its programming decisions adequately reflect community needs and interests.
The Journal noted that Carr has defended his actions by referencing a 1934 regulation that mandates broadcast networks operate in the “public interest, convenience, and necessity” due to their exclusive use of airwaves.
Historically, the FCC has only revoked a broadcast license once—back in 1971 when a Mississippi station supported segregation. Carr has suggested he would not hesitate to take similar actions today.
While former FCC chairs typically maintained a stance independent from presidential influence, Carr has chosen to embrace this alignment.
“We are completely aligned with President Trump’s agenda,” he reiterated to the publication.
Critics, however, contend that Carr is politicizing the agency’s role.
“This seems to reflect a political campaign targeting what the chairman identifies as opponents of the president,” remarked Robert Corn-Revere, chief counsel for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), asserting that this approach undermines the agency’s duty to uphold free speech.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., commented in July that the FCC’s sanctioning of the merger between CBS parent Paramount Global and Skydance Media “resembles blatant corruption.”
In the weeks leading up to the merger, Paramount agreed to settle a $16 million lawsuit from Trump relating to the editing of a CBS News "60 Minutes" segment.
Prior to the merger, Skydance committed to appointing an ombudsman to “review bias complaints” at Paramount, while withholding new diversity initiatives.
Carr defended the FCC’s oversight of this merger, asserting compliance with regulations and clarifying that the ombudsman is accountable to CBS, not the FCC.
The FCC has yet to respond to inquiries from Fox News Digital regarding these matters.
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