FCC Requests Sponsorship Info From 13 NPR Stations

The FCC under the leadership of Chairman Brendan Carr, has sent letters to 13 public radio stations requesting detailed information about their past sponsorships. 

This request is part of an ongoing investigation initiated by Carr to determine whether public television and radio stations, including those affiliated with NPR and PBS, are violating federal guidelines by airing what could be considered advertisements rather than permissible sponsorship announcements.

Public radio stations, classified as noncommercial educational (NCE) broadcasters, are prohibited under federal law from broadcasting traditional commercial advertisements for for-profit entities. 

Instead, they are allowed to air underwriting or sponsorship announcements, which must adhere to strict FCC rules. These rules, outlined in documents like the FCC’s “Sponsorship Identification Rules” and “Commission Policy on the Noncommercial Nature of Educational Broadcasting,” permit acknowledgments of financial supporters but forbid promotional content, calls to action, or anything that could be interpreted as endorsing a product or service.

The FCC’s letters require the 13 stations—including notable ones like WBUR in Boston and LAist in Southern California—to compile and submit materials detailing their sponsorship practices by March 31, 2025. The request builds on Carr’s broader inquiry, which began earlier in 2025 with letters to NPR and PBS leadership. 

Carr has expressed concern that some underwriting announcements might “cross the line into prohibited commercial advertisements,” potentially misusing taxpayer dollars if these stations are supporting for-profit endeavors. This investigation aligns with his skepticism about the continued federal funding of public media through entities like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a stance that echoes sentiments from some political conservatives, including President Trump.

While the FCC does not directly regulate NPR or PBS as organizations, it oversees the licenses of their individual member stations. The investigation has sparked varied reactions.Critics, like Senator Edward Markey, have called the probe a “partisan stunt,” suggesting it’s an attempt to weaponize the FCC’s authority against public broadcasters.

Stations like WBUR, which reaches millions through syndicated shows, and others have confirmed receiving the letters but have largely refrained from sharing specifics.