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Broadcast Licenses

All articles tagged with #broadcast licenses

FCC Chief Signals ABC Trump Speech Snub Could Shape License Review
politics1 month ago

FCC Chief Signals ABC Trump Speech Snub Could Shape License Review

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr tied ABC’s decision not to air President Trump’s address to the agency’s upcoming early review of ABC’s broadcast licenses, arguing broadcasters should carry presidential speeches in the public interest, even as the networks offered the speech via streaming. The review, already examining Disney’s DEI practices at ABC stations, could consider the broader implications of broadcasters’ obligations, while Democrat Commissioner Anna Gomez cautioned the FCC cannot punish First Amendment speech, framing the issue as a public‑interest question rather than censorship.

FCC Chief's License Threats Trigger Free-Speech Clash Over Iran Coverage
politics5 months ago

FCC Chief's License Threats Trigger Free-Speech Clash Over Iran Coverage

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr warned TV outlets they could lose their licenses if they don’t meet the public-interest standard, echoing Trump’s criticisms of coverage on Iran; critics say the move oversteps FCC authority (which covers local stations, not networks) and could chill news reporting, noting license renewals aren’t due until 2028 and that legal challenges would likely ensue.

FCC License Threats Spark Free-Speech Firestorm Over Iran Coverage
politics5 months ago

FCC License Threats Spark Free-Speech Firestorm Over Iran Coverage

Democrats and free-speech advocates condemned FCC Chair Brendan Carr for threatening to revoke broadcasters’ licenses over Iran-war coverage, calling it an authoritarian attack on the press. Carr argues licenses can be denied if coverage isn’t in the public interest, citing a 1969 Supreme Court ruling; critics including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Gov. Gavin Newsom say such moves would violate the First Amendment. The piece notes licensing power applies to local broadcast licenses (not cable or print) and frames the debate within broader press-pressure dynamics of the Trump era.

FCC Chief: Broadcast Licenses Aren't Property Rights Amid Trump's Coverage Criticism
politics5 months ago

FCC Chief: Broadcast Licenses Aren't Property Rights Amid Trump's Coverage Criticism

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr argues broadcast licenses aren’t property rights and can be revoked if stations air hoaxes or distortions, framing licenses as subject to public-interest standards amid President Trump’s criticism of Iran-war coverage. He urged broadcasters to correct inaccuracies before renewals, noted ongoing investigations (The View; NBCUniversal DEI policies), and clarified the FCC’s authority is limited to over-the-air content with no immediate push to reassess licenses. Renewals loom (2028–2031) as mega-merger considerations unfold in the TV landscape.

FCC chief warns broadcasters over 'fake news' amid Trump’s Iran coverage critique
politics5 months ago

FCC chief warns broadcasters over 'fake news' amid Trump’s Iran coverage critique

FCC Chair Brendan Carr warned broadcasters they could lose licenses for ‘hoaxes and news distortions,’ echoing President Trump’s criticisms of Iran-war coverage. The FCC issues licenses to individual stations (not networks) and says it cannot censor broadcast content, highlighting tension between regulatory oversight and First Amendment protections as officials weigh media coverage of the conflict.