Groups: 'We Are Alarmed' at FCC Political Pressure on Media
The American Civil Liberties Union, Committee to Protect Journalists and others are expressing dismay at what they see as the FCC putting politically motivated pressure on media organizations and broadcasters "who exercise protected speech that the current administration disfavors."
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"We are alarmed" by developments "discrediting online fact-checking, encouraging baseless news distortion investigations, threatening journalists for important reporting in the name of 'public interest,' punishing media for their commitment to diversity, and undermining press freedoms," they said in a letter Friday to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. They said Carr's pressure on social media platforms to sever ties with monitoring service NewsGuard "is, in fact, more censorial than the practices you criticize of NewsGuard." The letter also criticized the FCC's investigation of diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Comcast (see 2502110063) and its inquiry into Audacy’s KCBS San Francisco over its broadcasting details regarding an undercover Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation (see 2502050051).
"The FCC has a proud history of evidence-based decision making that respects First Amendment protections while ensuring broadcasters serve the public interest," the groups said. They urged the agency to require "clear evidence of wrongdoing before launching investigations," reaffirm a commitment to editorial interference protection, and guarantee that any oversight actions "are based on clear, objective criteria, not speculative political considerations." Other signatories included the Center for Journalism & Liberty at the Open Markets Institute, Common Cause, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, PEN America, Public Knowledge, the Authors Guild and the Society of Professional Journalists.
Senate Communications Subcommittee ranking member Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico and House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Doris Matsui of California led the filing last week of the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act (HR-1880/S-867), which would bar the FCC from revoking broadcast licenses or taking other actions against broadcasters based on the viewpoints they broadcast. The measure would also say it’s Congress’ finding that the FCC must set its own priorities and agenda “without undue influence from the President or any advisors to the President who do not work for the FCC.”