FCC chairman defends actions against ABC, says broadcasters must operate 'in the public interest'
- FCC Chairman Brendan Carr defended the agency's recent actions against ABC in a Fox Business Network interview.
- Carr said broadcasters receive subsidized access to public airwaves and must operate in the public interest in return.
- ABC accused the FCC of trying to chill constitutionally protected speech and of retaliating over the network's political content.
- ABC said the FCC's early review of eight local station licenses singled out stations owned by the network and reflected pressure from the Trump administration.
- The dispute also includes FCC efforts to revisit whether ABC's 'The View' should be subject to equal-time rules.
- Carr also cited DEI practices and said broadcasters should not run news distortions or broadcast hoaxes.
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr defended the agency's actions against ABC, saying broadcasters have a duty to operate in the public interest. In a Fox Business Network interview, he argued that broadcasters use public airwaves and should return that privilege by meeting public-interest obligations.
ABC responded in a filing to the FCC, saying the agency's early review of eight ABC local broadcast licenses was an attempt to chill protected speech and retaliate over the network's content. The company said the review targeted stations owned by ABC and reflected open pressure from the Trump administration.
The dispute is part of a broader clash between ABC and the FCC. It also involves the agency's effort to examine whether 'The View' should be subject to equal-time rules, which ABC says do not apply because the FCC had already classified the program as a bona fide news show in a 2002 decision.
Carr also referred to diversity, equity and inclusion practices and said broadcasters should not run news distortions or hoaxes. ABC, meanwhile, said public comments submitted to the FCC showed broad support for its position and for press freedom.
FCC主席为针对ABC的举措辩护，称广播机构必须“符合公共利益”
美国联邦通信委员会主席布伦丹·卡尔为该机构针对ABC的举措辩护，称广播机构负有“符合公共利益”运作的责任。他在福克斯商业频道的采访中表示，广播机构使用的是公共频谱，理应以公共利益标准作为交换条件。
ABC则在提交给FCC的文件中表示，委员会提前审查其8个地方台执照，是在试图压制受保护的言论，并因该台内容而实施报复。ABC称，这项审查针对的是旗下站点，也反映出特朗普政府公开施压。
这场争议是ABC与FCC长期冲突的一部分，还包括该机构试图审视《The View》是否应适用平等时间规则。ABC认为不应适用，因为FCC在2002年的决定中已将该节目认定为真正的新闻节目。
卡尔还提到多元、公平和包容相关做法，并表示广播机构不应传播新闻歪曲或虚假内容。ABC则称，提交给FCC的公众意见显示，大量支持意见站在其一边，并强调新闻自由。