PBS, NPR Say They Comply With U.S. Regulations After Trump-Appointed FCC Chairman Warns They May Be ‘Violating Federal Law’ by Airing Ads

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Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission appointed by President Trump, cautioned the leaders of PBS and NPR about potentially breaking federal law by broadcasting advertisements. He also disclosed that he’s initiated a probe by the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau to look into this issue.

For many years, PBS and NPR have been announcing their gratitude towards companies and organizations that contribute financially, known as underwriter acknowledgements. Unlike regular commercials, they are not permitted to broadcast advertisements. Both media entities have emphasized adherence to the FCC’s regulations regarding underwriting, in response to a letter from Carr, sent this week to the heads of NPR (Katherine Maher) and PBS (Paul Kerger).

In a letter dated January 29th (obtained by The New York Times), Carr expressed his worries. He suggested that NPR and PBS might be breaching federal law by airing commercials. Specifically, he pointed out a potential issue where underwriting announcements, instead of staying within the boundaries, could be considered as forbidden commercial advertisements. As the Chairman of the FCC, Carr emphasized the significance of these noncommercial educational broadcast stations maintaining their noble missions and avoiding any deceitful operation that merely pretends to be noncommercial.

In my perspective as a movie buff, Carr’s correspondence didn’t provide instances where shows on PBS or NPR might have aired advertisements that were overtly promotional.

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In his letter to CEOs, Carr mentioned that he would share it with “relevant congressional representatives,” as Congress is currently debating whether to abolish the requirement for taxpayers to fund NPR and PBS programming. Personally, he finds it hard to justify why Congress should still be giving money from taxpayers to NPR and PBS in light of the significant changes in the media market since 1967 when the Public Broadcasting Act was passed.

Commissioner Anna Gomez, appointed by President Biden at the Democratic FCC, expressed in a post that Carr’s letter to NPR and PBS seems like another attempt from the Administration to misuse the power of the FCC. The FCC should not be used to bully or suppress broadcast media.

In response to Carr’s letter, PBS expressed pride in the non-commercial educational content it offers across America via its member stations. They strive to adhere to the Federal Communications Commission’s underwriting guidelines, and they are eager to showcase their compliance to the Commission.

In a statement, NPR’s Maher confirmed that NPR’s programs and sponsorship announcements adhere to federal rules, specifically the FCC regulations for underwriting messages on non-commercial educational radio stations. It is also required that our member stations follow these guidelines as well.

She added, “We’re certain that a scrutiny of our coding and approval procedures will validate NPR’s compliance with these regulations. Over the years, we’ve collaborated extensively with the FCC to aid non-commercial educational broadcasters who disseminate crucial information, educational programs, and emergency warnings to communities nationwide in the U.S.

(Pictured above: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr)

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2025-01-30 23:47