Senators Condemn Political Targeting of Broadcasters

Three Democratic U.S. Senators—Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.)—have issued a strongly worded letter to FCC Chair Brendan Carr and fellow Republican commissioner Nathan Simington, accusing them of exploiting the agency to target broadcasters and public media for political reasons.

Key points from the letter:

• The senators expressed alarm over recent FCC actions, led by Carr, to initiate or revive investigations into broadcasting companies without evidence of misconduct, suggesting an intent to intimidate broadcasters for political gain.
• They criticized Carr and Simington for implying that broadcast stations could face scrutiny over editorial decisions, raising First Amendment concerns.
• 
  The lawmakers highlighted the FCC's decision, within Carr's first two weeks as chair, to reopen three previously closed complaints against ABC, CBS, and NBC without new evidence, while not reinstating a similar complaint against a Fox station.
• They voiced concern over a new investigation into PBS and NPR member stations regarding sponsorship disclosures, despite no evidence of deviation from long-standing practices.
• The senators argued that these actions appear politically driven, aimed at punishing, censoring, or intimidating the free press based on disagreement with editorial choices.

They urged Carr and Simington to halt these practices, adhere to the Constitution, stop misusing the FCC's authority, and return to evidence-based decision-making consistent with the agency's historical standards.

Background:

• Carr recently launched an FCC probe into PBS and NPR sponsorship policies.
• In an unusual move for an FCC chair, he has also endorsed efforts to defund public media