FCC Chair Finally Says Agency Won’t Censor Trump’s Enemies

Save this story Save Save this story Save Last Wednesday President Donald Trump took to Twitter to suggest the government should challenge broadcasting licenses for stations that air “fake news.” The tweets attracted a swarm of criticism, but Federal Communications Commissioner Ajit Pai, who was best positioned to calm fears of government censorship, was silent. Tuesday, six days after the president’s initial tweet calling for a challenge of NBC’s broadcast licenses, Pai finally assured the public that the agency has no intention of revoking licenses over critical reporting. “The FCC under my leadership will stand for the First Amendment,” Pai said when asked about the tweets during an event hosted by George Mason University. “And under the law the FCC does not have the authority to revoke a license of a broadcast station based on the content of a particular newscast.” It might seem like a no-brainer to clarify the FCC’s authority and policy during a public controversy, but the president put Pai in a bind. Although Pai was just confirmed to another term as an FCC commissioner by Congress this month, Trump could strip him of his chair position. But saying nothing could anger broadcasters and Pai’s fellow conservatives, which could limit his future career ambitions. In theory, the FCC could challenge broadcast licenses of stations that fail to serve the public interest, but there’s little precedent of the agency actually doing that. During the George Mason University event, Pai said that historically, the FCC has had no jurisdiction to determine what is or isn’t “fake news.” Related Stories Media FCC’s Silence on Trump Tweets Speaks Volumes Klint Finley politics So the FCC Head Says the Media Isn’t the Enemy. In 2017, That’s News Klint Finley politics If Trump Fans Love Freedom, They Should Love Net Neutrality Klint Finley Trump in recent weeks also has called on broadcasters to give Republicans equal airtime with their opponents. That reminded many of the FCC’s old “Fairness Doctrine” rules, which dictated that broadcasters should give equal time to both sides of an issue. The rules were revoked in 1987, but conservatives have long feared a return of the Fairness Doctrine, worrying that it would be used against right-wing radio personalities such as Rush Limbaugh. Trump even warned, incorrectly , in 2014 that “Net neutrality is the Fairness Doctrine. Will target conservative media.” During Tuesday’s event, Pai said the FCC shouldn’t micromanage how much time broadcasters spend on different topics. Pai’s response lagged that of Democratic FCC commissioners Mignon Clyburn and Jessica Rosenworcel‏ , who tweeted responses to the president last Wednesday. But he has previously written that he would not interfere with journalists’ First Amendment rights, even if Trump asked him to. That should go without saying, but in the Trump era, it bears repeating.