Vigorous Bipartisan Condemnation of FCC for Media Censorship Erupts at Senate Commerce Hearing
Carr’s denying independence of FCC necessitates his removal
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. senators from both sides of the aisle put the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) leadership in the hot seat for recent moves to pressure media companies into censoring or pulling down content they perceive as critical of President Donald Trump on their networks.
After witnessing major public backlash against ABC/Disney pulling down the comedy show Jimmy Kimmel Live! (which was quickly reinstated as a result), this was a moment of rare bipartisan agreement that the Trump administration and a would-be independent regulatory body have set dangerous precedents in allegedly promising favorable corporate treatment, like waving through large mergers, in exchange for moderating critical voices and censoring reporting at their networks.
“It is deeply alarming — and overdue — that U.S. senators are finally confronting the serious threat of consolidated media censorship and quid pro quo interference that has unfolded during this administration, including at a Federal Communications Commission that was created to be independent,” said Dr. Courtney Radsch, director of the Center for Journalism and Liberty at Open Markets. “This moment demands decisive, bipartisan corrective action to protect press freedom and the free speech guaranteed under the First Amendment: the immediate removal of FCC Chair Brendan Carr and mandatory, transparent reporting to Congress on all contacts between the FCC, the Trump administration, and media companies regarding content and any related deals.
“This episode of open, dangerous censorship must also serve as a wake-up call about the extreme concentration of media ownership and platform control over communications and information in this country. A handful of massive conglomerates now control vast swaths of our news and information ecosystem, creating conflicts of interest that incentivize self-censorship and make our media system dangerously vulnerable to pressure from autocrats. Congress already has the authority to break up these media giants. If lawmakers are serious about defending press freedom and preventing future abuses like the Kimmel incident, they must use it — now.”
Also highly notable at this hearing was Carr’s refusal to acknowledge First Amendment protections to licensees. He did not commit that the FCC would not revoke broadcast licenses based on whether the licensee is critical of the Trump administration. Overall, the hearing has made it clear that Carr has upended the definition of defending "public interest" by aligning it to the views and feelings of President Trump about how news and entertainment should characterize his administrations' agenda.