New FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has asked the commission’s Enforcement Bureau to open an investigation into NPR and PBS over whether their underwriting announcements are violating federal law by airing commercials.
In letters sent to NPR President/CEO Katherine Maher and PBS President/CEO Paul Kerger obtained by the New York Times, Carr said, “I am concerned that NPR and PBS broadcasts could be violating federal law by airing commercials. In particular, it is possible that NPR and PBS member stations are broadcasting underwriting announcements that cross the line into prohibited commercial advertisements. It is important to me, as Chairman of the FCC, that [noncommercial educational] broadcast stations stay true to their important missions and refrain from operating as noncommercial in name only.” Carr said he was going to provide a copy of the letter to “relevant Members of Congress” as “Congress is actively considering whether to stop requiring taxpayers to subsidize NPR and PBS programming. For my own part, I do not see a reason why Congress should continue sending taxpayer dollars to NPR and PBS given the changes in the media marketplace since the passage of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967.”
Both organizations quickly responded back publicly. PBS issued the following statement: “PBS is proud of the noncommercial educational programming we provide to all Americans through our member stations. We work diligently to comply with the FCC’s underwriting regulations and welcome the opportunity to demonstrate that to the Commission.”
NPR’s Maher said, “NPR programming and underwriting messaging complies with federal regulations, including the FCC guidelines on underwriting messages for noncommercial educational broadcasters, and Member stations are expected to be in compliance as well. We are confident any review of our programming and underwriting practices will confirm NPR’s adherence to these rules. We have worked for decades with the FCC in support of noncommercial educational broadcasters who provide essential information, educational programming, and emergency alerts to local communities across the United States.”
The two Democratic members of the FCC fired back at Carr as well. Geoffrey Starks said, “Public television and radio stations play a significant role in our media ecosystem. Any attempt to intimidate these local media outlets is a threat to the free flow of information and the marketplace of ideas. The announcement of this investigation gives me serious concern.” Anna Gomez was more defiant stating, “This appears to be yet another Administration effort to weaponize the power of the FCC. The FCC has no business intimidating and silencing broadcast media.”
INSTANT INSIGHT: Like the reopening of investigations into owned stations of ABC, CBS and NBC and his threats towards Audacy due to the name George Soros simply being tied to the company, this is yet another attempt by Carr in his first two weeks leading the FCC into using threats of bias against those providing balanced or left-leaning journalism in their news departments.
