FCC Chair: 'Broadcast Licenses Are Not Sacred Cows'

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, in a Monday interview with The Wall Street Journal, expressed readiness to penalize major media companies if he and President Trump deem their actions "out of line." 

Described as a maverick embracing Trump’s confrontational style, Carr diverged from past FCC chairs by threatening to revoke broadcast licenses from outlets he believes violate the "public interest." He stated, “Broadcast licenses are not sacred cows.”

Appointed to the FCC in 2017, Carr emphasized alignment with Trump’s agenda, noting that Trump “smashed the facade” of legacy media as truth gatekeepers. 

Following Trump’s claims of bias at Comcast, NBCUniversal’s parent, Carr initiated two probes into the company. One, launched in April, accused Comcast of misleading coverage on a deportation case, while another in July scrutinized its relationship with NBC stations for community relevance.

Citing a 1934 law requiring broadcasters to serve the public interest, Carr justified his actions. The only prior FCC license revocation occurred in 1971 against a Mississippi station defending segregation, a precedent Carr seems willing to follow. 

Unlike predecessors who maintained independence, Carr openly supports Trump’s agenda. Carr says he can use these regulatory levers to improve broadcast news and restore broken trust between the public and the media. His critics say he will do the opposite.

Critics, including Robert Corn-Revere of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, argue Carr’s actions politicize the FCC and threaten free speech, accusing him of targeting perceived presidential adversaries.