Washington (September 13, 2024) - Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) today sent letters to each of the five Commissioners at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging them to make licensing determinations objectively and in a manner that upholds the First Amendment. Following the presidential debate this week, former President Donald Trump stated that ABC is “a news organization. They have to be licensed to do it. They ought to take away their license for the way they did that.” Former President Trump’s threat to revoke an FCC license over his dissatisfaction with ABC’s handling of the debate is a serious threat to the First Amendment and antithetical to the FCC’s mission.
The lawmakers wrote: “Given former President Trump’s repeated threats to weaponize the FCC’s licensing authority, I request that you respond in writing by September 20, 2024, with your commitment to making licensing determinations objectively, based on the standards set forth in the Communications Act, and in a manner that upholds the First Amendment. Americans should have complete faith that each FCC commissioner will carry out their responsibilities objectively and consistent with the Constitution.”
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