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FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel released a statement on Thursday in reaction to former President Donald Trump’s repeated demands to revoke the licenses of specific broadcast stations.
The ex-president’s statements, driven by political motives, led Rosenworcel to emphasize the significance of upholding free speech as protected by the First Amendment.
“While repeated attacks against broadcast stations by the former President may now be familiar, these threats against free speech are serious and should not be ignored,” said Rosenworcel. “The FCC does not and will not revoke licenses for broadcast stations simply because a political candidate disagrees with or dislikes content or coverage.”
Rosenworcel reaffirmed the FCC’s dedication to protecting free speech and guaranteeing that broadcast stations remain independent from political influence. She had previously dismissed similar requests from Trump to revoke ABC’s license after the September presidential debate. News networks such as ABC, NBC, and FOX are not licensed.
She has also condemned the Florida government’s threats targeting broadcast stations.
The FCC emphasizes the importance of upholding media independence and preventing political figures from exerting influence on broadcast licensing decisions based on content or coverage.
