FCC Commissioner Carr Warns TV Stations of Potential License Revocation Over News Coverage

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr Threatens Broadcasters with License Cancellation

On March 9, 2024, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr issued a warning to broadcasters to "correct course" on news coverage, stating that those running "hoaxes and news distortions" risk losing their licenses. Carr emphasized that the law is clear, requiring broadcasters to operate in the public interest.

This warning comes amid criticism from President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding news coverage of US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Trump has previously expressed displeasure with coverage, suggesting that networks should lose their broadcast licenses due to unfair coverage.

The FCC's authority to revoke licenses for content it disagrees with is unprecedented and has been successfully challenged in court. The agency does not directly license national networks, but individual local stations, including those owned by networks and independently owned affiliates, hold FCC licenses and are responsible for complying with agency rules.

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Recent examples of FCC actions include:

• Nexstar Media Group Inc., the largest owner of local TV stations in the US, temporarily pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from its 32 ABC stations in response to a FCC suggestion that the show could risk local stations' licenses.
• The FCC launched an equal-time investigation into ABC's The View after it featured a Democratic US Senate candidate as a guest during a primary election.
• CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert was prohibited from airing an interview with a Democratic candidate due to concerns about violating federal fairness rules, but was able to post the interview on YouTube, where it garnered over 9 million views.