Carr: Localism Is Key Public Interest Standard

FCC's Brendan Carr

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, speaking at a Semafor summit on Thursday, expressed his intent to "re-empower" local TV stations and suggested Congress consider stricter social media content moderation rules. 

Carr argued the FCC has neglected its duty to ensure broadcasters serve the public interest, a point underscored by his recent probe into CBS News' "60 Minutes" interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, which aired in October 2024 and is tied to a lawsuit from President Donald Trump. He reinstated a related complaint against WCBS-TV New York, previously dismissed by his predecessor. Carr highlighted polls showing low trust in national media but greater trust in local broadcasters, whom he aims to bolster by addressing their "unhealthy" ties with national programmers. 

He emphasized "localism" as key to the FCC’s public interest standard, a view debated with Semafor’s Ben Smith, who noted the lack of consensus on defining that standard.

Carr has also raised concerns about the unchecked power of social media giants, which he says dwarf the influence of regulated broadcast TV and radio. Carr echoed claims from Trump and others that conservatives face censorship, though he noted a shift with Trump’s White House return and Musk’s acquisition of Twitter (now X). He criticized social media firms for amassing unprecedented control over speech and using it to suppress viewpoints, often under pressure from the Biden administration. “The greatest threat in recent years has been these companies,” Carr said, advocating for more speech rather than less.