FCC Chief Brendan Carr Wants to ‘Re-Empower’ Local TV Stations and Consider Tighter Regulation of Social Media Giants

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On Thursday, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr expressed his intention to “strengthen the influence” of local television broadcasters. He also proposed stricter oversight for the content moderation practices of major social media platforms, which he believes should be reviewed by Congress.

At a gathering titled “Reviving Trust in News: A National Symposium,” organized by digital news platform Semafor in Washington D.C., Carr was invited as a speaker. During this event, Ben Smith, the co-founder and editor-in-chief of Semafor, posed questions to Carr regarding concerns that some critics have expressed about whether Carr plans to leverage the power of the FCC to bully news organizations.

In a recent shift, as per Carr’s argument, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has abandoned its duty over the past few decades to prioritize the public interest in broadcast TV and radio operations. Upon taking office as chairman, Carr stirred up controversy within the journalism sector by investigating CBS News’ “60 Minutes” and their October interview with Vice President Kamala Harris. This interview is currently under legal scrutiny by President Donald Trump, who alleges that “60 Minutes” manipulated Harris’ interview to boost the then-Democratic candidate at his expense. Additionally, a conservative law firm has lodged a complaint with the FCC against WCBS-TV New York for airing this specific episode of “60 Minutes”. Shortly after assuming the role of chairman, Carr revived the dismissed FCC complaint against WCBS-TV New York that had been previously discarded by his predecessor, Jessica Rosenworcel, who was appointed under President Biden.

Previously this month, as per Carr’s demand, CBS News made available the complete video recordings of their interviews with Harris. Considering the topic of the gathering, Carr emphasized that surveys indicate a majority of U.S. citizens harbor a low level of trust towards mainstream media.

When it comes to national news media, there’s often a lack of trust. However, when we focus on the level overseen by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), like local broadcasters, people tend to trust them more. They recognize their local journalists and see them in everyday places like the post office or grocery store. Therefore, one of my goals is to strengthen the autonomy of these local broadcasters so they can better cater to their communities, as I believe their current ties with national programmers may not be entirely beneficial. I aim to give back this power to these local broadcasters, enabling them to prioritize public interest.

Carr’s comments hint at the possibility of the FCC examining the commercial ties between the Big Four national broadcast networks and their affiliated stations nationwide, as both Carr and Smith agreed that there is a lack of agreement on what constitutes the most effective way for broadcasters to uphold the public’s best interests.

The guiding principle for the FCC’s public interest standard has consistently been community service – catering to the needs of your local area. It’s important to note that we have an abundance of national news media being delivered to local communities by large programmers. I believe in revitalizing local news, sports, and other content as it seems beneficial for our communities.

Carr was questioned about actions he’s taken that seem to be aimed at outlets frequently criticized by President Trump, such as CBS News, NPR, and PBS. In response, Carr countered by stating that it is actually him who is committed to restoring impartiality within the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

As a passionate cinephile, I’d like to share my perspective: We seem to have just emerged from an era where power was often wielded as a weapon at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The fate of one’s case, in my opinion, was too frequently determined by something as simple as one’s surname.

Carr pointed out a recent action by the commission, where an $800 million FCC contract given to Elon Musk’s Starlink for expanding high-speed internet in rural areas was taken back. Simultaneously, he claimed that George Soros, often criticized by the far right, was granted a unique advantage to purchase 200 radio stations.

Regarding the significant influence Elon Musk has within the Trump administration, Carr made it clear that he won’t receive any preferential treatment. “If Starlink or Musk presents an issue at the FCC and he’s always correct, we’ll support him completely. However, if he continually pushes incorrect issues, he will lose every time at the FCC. We simply ensure everyone receives a fair chance.

In simpler terms, Carr warned about how social media platforms hold significant power without much regulation, akin to broadcast TV and radio stations. This mirrors criticisms made by figures like Trump and others who claim conservatives are unfairly censored. With Trump’s reentry into the White House and Elon Musk acquiring Twitter (now called X), the situation for right-wing voices has shifted dramatically.

In essence, over the past few years, the most significant danger has predominantly stemmed from large social media entities that have accrued unprecedented influence. These social media giants hold more control over free expression than any entity ever before, according to Carr. The misuse of this power was evident in their suppression of diverse viewpoints, and notably, the Biden administration played a part by urging these companies to restrict fundamental political speech. However, my stance is that we should advocate for increased freedom of speech, not less.

Carr cited the “asymmetrical regulatory obligations” imposed on traditional media versus new.

He stated that when considering Silicon Valley and social media, these entities hold significant influence, which he believes has been employed in a biased or unfair manner.

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2025-02-28 03:19