FCC Chairman Brendan Carr Defies Bipartisan Calls, Keeps News Distortion Probes Alive

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced that he will not scrap the agency's controversial news distortion policy, despite calls from a bipartisan group of former FCC chairs and commissioners. Carr made the statement in an X post, responding to a 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 said that ABC affiliates could have their licenses revoked for news distortion if they kept the comedian on the air. The petition also mentioned several other instances in which Carr threatened to revoke licenses for perceived news distortion. Carr's response to the petition was straightforward, saying "How about no" in his X post. He reiterated that the FCC will continue to hold broadcasters accountable to their public interest obligations. "On my watch, the FCC will continue to hold broadcasters accountable to their public interest obligations," Carr wrote. The news distortion policy has been a contentious issue for years, with many arguing that it is an outdated and overly broad regulation. The policy allows the FCC to revoke broadcast licenses if it determines that a station is distorting the news. Critics argue that this gives the FCC too much power over editorial decision-making and could be used to silence dissenting voices. The petition was signed by a bipartisan group of former FCC chairs and commissioners, including Michael Powell, Kevin Martin, and Michael Copps. The group argued that the policy is not only outdated but also unconstitutional. "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 read. The controversy surrounding the news distortion policy has implications for free speech and the role of government in regulating the media. Many argue that the policy is a threat to the First Amendment and could be used to silence dissenting voices. Others argue that the policy is necessary to ensure that the media is held accountable for its role in shaping public opinion. The FCC has not announced any plans to revisit the news distortion policy, despite the petition and Carr's response. The agency has continued to enforce the policy, with Carr using it to threaten ABC affiliates over the Jimmy Kimmel controversy. The issue is likely to remain a contentious one in the coming months, with many arguing that the policy needs to be repealed or revised. In a statement, the former FCC leaders who signed the petition expressed disappointment with Carr's response. "We are disappointed but not surprised by Chairman Carr's decision to ignore the concerns of former FCC leaders and the public," the statement read. "We will continue to advocate for the repeal of this outdated and unconstitutional policy."