FCC Chair Dismisses Complaints on Free Speech

In her final days as chairwoman of the FCC, Jessica Rosenworcel dismissed four complaints aimed at local TV stations, asserting that such actions were necessary to uphold the First Amendment. The complaints, filed by both conservative and liberal groups, sought to use the FCC's licensing power to penalize stations for content they deemed unfavorable, which Rosenworcel argued would set a dangerous precedent. She emphasized that the FCC should neither act as 'the President’s speech police' nor as 'journalism’s censor-in-chief.' The complaints included allegations of bias against ABC, CBS, and NBC, as well as a challenge to a Fox-owned station’s license based on coverage of the 2020 election. These dismissals reflect an effort to maintain clarity about government interference in the press, particularly as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office with a history of targeting media organizations. The incoming FCC chair, Brendan Carr, has expressed alignment with Trump’s views, raising concerns about the future of press freedoms under his leadership.