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D.C. Memo: Incoming FCC Chairman Carr: ‘A Broadcast License Is Not A Sacred Cow’

D.C. Memo: Incoming FCC Chairman Carr: ‘A Broadcast License Is Not A Sacred Cow’

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Ted Hearn
Nov 25, 2024
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D.C. Memo: Incoming FCC Chairman Carr: ‘A Broadcast License Is Not A Sacred Cow’
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FCC: FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to be the next FCC Chairman, is looking to hold broadcasters more strictly accountable for their mandatory public interest obligations than in the past. "A lot of people have focused on the fact that broadcasters have these licenses, and up to now, everyone has treated them like they're some sort of sacred cows. The reality is, a broadcast license is not a sacred cow. You have an obligation to operate in the public interest," said Republican Carr, whom Trump designated as Chairman on Nov. 17. He continued, “The FCC hasn't really taken any action on that front in a very long time, but I think we need to reinvigorate that. I think that'd be a good thing.” Carr made these comments Friday on the Dana Show, hosted by popular conservative commentator Dana Loesch and heard on 250 radio stations across the country. Carr repeated that a pending news distortion complaint about a pre-election 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala Harris would likely factor into the agency's review of Skydance's $8.4 billion acquisition of CBS parent Paramount Global. "My sense is that it's very likely that issue and that complaint will be part of the FCC review. In order for this transaction to take place, CBS needs FCC approval to make this transaction," Carr said. "We have to find that it's in the public interest, and I think that will be likely part of the discussion." Click here for longer version.

Screenshot of incoming FCC Chairman Brendan Carr with radio host Dana Loesch

Section 230: Less than eight weeks away from becoming FCC Chairman, Brendan Carr in an interview Friday said immunity found in Section 230 of the Communications Act applied to the extent covered entities acted in good faith. He questioned whether Big Tech’s reliance on online news watchdogs like NewsGuard was a sign of good faith. "Companies only get these special what we call Section 230 protections if they engage, as relevant here, in good faith conduct. And is relying on something like NewsGuard really good faith?" said Carr, a Republican FCC Commissioner since 2017. He added, "I think people that are continuing to do that are putting their Section 230 liability pretty seriously at risk. There's a lot the FCC can do on these issues." Carr, named Nov. 17 as the next FCC Chairman by President-elect Donald Trump, made his comments Friday on the Dana Show, hosted by popular conservative commentator Dana Loesch.

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