FCC chair Brendan Carr says broadcast licenses are not a "property right"
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The Bottom Line
FCC chair says TV and radio station licenses can be taken away from networks.
How This Affects You
Your local news stations could lose their broadcasting rights if the FCC disagrees with their coverage.
AI Summary
FCC Chair Brendan Carr told CBS News in an exclusive Saturday interview that broadcast licenses are not a "property right" and could be revoked. Carr doubled down on his previous warnings about potential license revocations amid President Trump's criticisms of media coverage of the war in Iran. The statement reinforces the FCC's regulatory authority over broadcasters during a period of heightened tension between the Trump administration and news organizations. Carr's comments suggest the commission may be prepared to use its licensing powers as leverage against media outlets whose coverage the president has criticized.
What's Being Done
The FCC chair is warning broadcasters their licenses could be revoked amid Trump's media criticisms.
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FCC chief threatens broadcasters as Trump criticizes coverage of Iran war - The Washington Post
FCC chair threatens networks’ licenses after Trump complains about Iran coverage
FCC chair threatens to throttle news broadcasts over ‘hoaxes’ about Iran war - The Guardian
FCC chair threatens to throttle news broadcasts over ‘hoaxes’ about Iran war
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FCC chair threatens to throttle news broadcasts over ‘hoaxes’ about Iran war
<p>Brendan Carr posts that he may cancel spectrum permits of ‘mainstream news’ outlets for ‘misleading’ coverage</p><p>The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/trump-administration">Trump administration</a>’s communications licensing tsar fired a warning shot over the US broadcasting industry Saturday, threatening to cancel the spectrum permits of broadcasters pushing what he termed “hoaxes and news distortions”.</p><p>Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair Brendan Carr posted on social media that broadcasters running “fake news – have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up. The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not.”</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/14/fcc-broadcast-permits-iran-war-news">Continue reading...</a>
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