Trump Urges FCC to Revoke Broadcasting Licenses for ABC and NBC Once More

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), under the leadership of Chairman Brendan Carr, is currently conducting investigations and reviews into NBC and ABC News, raising concerns about free speech and potential First Amendment violations.

In a recent social media post, former U.S. President Donald Trump accused ABC and NBC of being "two of the worst and most biased networks in history." Trump's criticism follows a long-standing narrative of accusing media outlets of unfair coverage.

The FCC, historically known for its independence from U.S. presidents, has taken a different approach under Carr. The chairman has followed Trump's lead, initiating reviews of journalistic choices made by the networks' news divisions.

One of the areas under review is the issue of local television companies owning stations in markets that reach more than 39% of the nation's population. Carr has suggested it's time to scrap regulations barring such practices.

Trump has also suggested that the FCC should revoke the networks' broadcast licenses or make them pay a large sum for using the airwaves. However, it's worth noting that the FCC issues licenses to individual stations, not networks, and any such action could potentially violate the First Amendment.

The investigations could prove nettlesome or costly for parent companies of the national news outlets, such as Disney and Comcast, if they enter into major deals requiring federal regulatory approval. The FCC reviews have already affected CBS, with the Republican-led Congress killing all federal funding for public media.

Carr has launched formal reviews of nearly all major broadcast networks, including ABC, CBS, NBC, and PBS. Notably, Fox, which is owned by Trump political ally Rupert Murdoch, has escaped Carr's scrutiny so far.

The journalists at the networks under investigation are highly aware of the administration's actions and words that encourage further actions. However, they continue to uphold the principles of journalistic integrity, reporting on events objectively and fairly.

In a move to assure unbiased journalism, David Ellison, Skydance chief, assured Carr of "Skydance's commitment to unbiased journalism and its embrace of diverse viewpoints" before the FCC approved the merger of Paramount Global.

The FCC's actions have not been without controversy. Trump has publicly supported lawsuits filed by Carr against ABC and CBS, which resulted in twin $16 million settlements from the networks' parent companies. Carr has also initiated investigations into the diversity, equity, and inclusion actions of the corporate parents of ABC and NBC - The Walt Disney Co. and Comcast, respectively.

The FCC reviews initiated by Chairman Carr could potentially thwart business plans, such as Nexstar's proposed purchase of all Tegna's TV stations. As the investigations continue, the future of these media giants remains uncertain.

In a recent development, Trump is currently suing Murdoch's Wall Street Journal. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the media landscape in the U.S.

The FCC's investigations into NBC and ABC News continue, with the potential for further developments in the coming weeks. The investigations have sparked a heated debate about free speech, media bias, and the role of the FCC in regulating the media.