FCC Chairman Carr Moves To Weaponize Agency Against Public Media
FCC Chairman Carr Moves To Weaponize Agency Against Public Media
FCC Chairman Carr Moves To Weaponize Agency Against Public Media

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    Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced today that he is launching an investigation into whether NPR and PBS member stations have violated FCC rules through their underwriting practices, saying this could inform congressional funding decisions.

    The following can be attributed to John Bergmayer, Legal Director at Public Knowledge:

    “Chairman Carr’s investigation into NPR and PBS underwriting practices is a nakedly political attempt to undermine public broadcasting under the guise of regulatory oversight. The framing of this investigation, and Chairman Carr’s hostility toward public media, reveals its true purpose: manufacturing a pretext to defund public media institutions that serve local communities across America, not to improve or support them.

    “This investigation continues a dangerous pattern of weaponizing the FCC’s regulatory authority to advance partisan goals. Rather than focusing on legitimate oversight priorities, Chairman Carr appears intent on using his position to pressure broadcasters, whose political coverage he has been critical of. The Commission’s resources would be better spent addressing actual threats to American media and telecommunications rather than manufacturing controversy.

    “The FCC must remain an independent regulator focused on serving the public interest – not a tool for political intimidation of disfavored media outlets. We call on Chairman Carr to abandon this politically motivated investigation.”

    Members of the media may contact Communications Director Shiva Stella with inquiries, interview requests, or to join the Public Knowledge press list at shiva@publicknowledge.org or 405-249-9435.