FCC Chairman Stands Firm on News Distortion Policy

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has stated that he will not scrap the agency's controversial news distortion policy, despite calls from a bipartisan group of former FCC chairs and commissioners. In a post on the social media platform X, Carr wrote, "How about no," in response to the petition filed by the former FCC leaders. The petition asked the FCC to repeal its 1960s-era news distortion policy, which Carr has repeatedly invoked in threats to revoke broadcast licenses. The petition, filed yesterday, argued that the policy's purpose – to eliminate bias in the news – is not a legitimate reason for the FCC to intervene in editorial decision-making. The petition cited the recent Jimmy Kimmel controversy, in which Carr suggested that ABC affiliates could have their licenses revoked for news distortion if they continued to air the comedian's show. The petitioners argued that this incident, along with several other threats made by Carr, illustrate the "extraordinary intrusions on editorial decision-making" that the news distortion policy permits. Carr has maintained that the policy is necessary to ensure that broadcasters are held accountable to their public interest obligations. In his response to the petition, he stated, "On my watch, the FCC will continue to hold broadcasters accountable to their public interest obligations." The news distortion policy has been a contentious issue, with many arguing that it is an overreach of the FCC's authority and an infringement on the First Amendment rights of broadcasters. The petition was signed by a bipartisan group of former FCC chairs and commissioners, including Michael Powell, Kevin Martin, and Deborah Taylor Tate. The signatories argued that the policy is outdated and has no place in modern broadcasting. They also expressed concern that the policy is being used as a tool to exert pressure on broadcasters and silence dissenting voices. The implications of the news distortion policy are far-reaching and have significant implications for society. The policy has been used to target broadcasters who air content that is deemed to be biased or unfair. This has led to concerns about censorship and the suppression of free speech. The policy has also been criticized for being overly broad and vague, making it difficult for broadcasters to know what is and is not acceptable. The current status of the news distortion policy is uncertain, with Carr indicating that he will continue to enforce it. The petitioners have vowed to continue their efforts to repeal the policy, and it is likely that this issue will continue to be a contentious one in the coming months. The FCC has not announced any plans to revisit the policy, and it remains to be seen how this issue will ultimately be resolved.