“How about no”: FCC boss Brendan Carr says he won’t end news distortion probes

Brendan Carr, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has made it clear that he will not abandon the agency's contentious news distortion policy. In a pointed response to a petition from a bipartisan group of former FCC leaders, Carr stated, "How about no," asserting his commitment to ensuring that broadcasters adhere to their public interest responsibilities. The petition, submitted by former FCC chairs and commissioners, seeks to dismantle a news distortion policy that dates back to the 1960s. This policy has been a focal point for Carr, who has wielded it as a potential threat to revoke broadcast licenses. This was notably highlighted during the recent controversy involving comedian Jimmy Kimmel, where Carr suggested that ABC affiliates could face license revocation for news distortion if Kimmel remained on air. The former FCC leaders argue that such incidents illustrate significant overreach into editorial decision-making, which they claim Carr believes the news distortion policy allows. They contend that the policy's original aim of eliminating bias in news reporting is not a valid government concern anymore. Furthermore, they assert that it has led to a chilling effect on broadcasters' speech, has been misused for political gain, and is overly ambiguous. The petition emphasizes that the news distortion policy is no longer defensible under current First Amendment standards and is unwarranted in today's diverse media landscape. It advocates for the complete repeal of the policy, asserting that broadcasters should not be investigated or penalized for perceived slanting or staging of news, unless the broadcast in question meets the stringent criteria for broadcasting a dangerous hoax as outlined in federal regulations.