On Thursday, Federal Communications Commission Chairman (FCC) Brendan Carr joined “The Scott Jennings Show.” Carr shared that he believes it would be “worthwhile” to investigate whether ABC’s “The View” might be violating broadcast rules in the wake of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension.
During his comments, Carr argued that far-left show might be violating the commission’s “equal time” rule. The “equal time” rule requires broadcasters to provide equal opportunity to all political candidates unless deemed a “bona fide news show.”
The FCC administers a licensing system for the owners and operators of radio and television broadcast stations. This licensing is considered necessary because the electromagnetic spectrum on which broadcast stations operate is a scarce and finite resource. As discussed in this CRS Report, the FCC has a number of rules and regulations regarding access to airwaves by political candidates. Section 315(a) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, requires broadcast licensees to afford “equal opportunities to all other such candidates for that office” in the event that the licensee permits a candidate for public office “to use a broadcasting station.” The FCC has issued a regulation pursuant to this statutory directive. The rule contains exceptions, including when a candidate appears on a “bona fide newscast” or in “on-the-spot coverage of bona fide news events.” This rule is colloquially referred to as the “equal time rule,” though this phrase does not appear in the rule or in the provision of the Communications Act authorizing it.
Carr state, “Potentially, I would assume you can make the argument that ‘The View’ is a bona fide news show, but I’m not so sure about that.”
“And I think it’s worthwhile to have the FCC look into whether ‘The View’ and some of these other programs that you have still qualify as bona fide news programs and therefore exempt from the equal opportunity regime that Congress has put in place.”
Watch (segment begins at 35:00)
Carr also discussed ABC’s recent decision to cancel The Jimmy Kimmel Show indefinitely, noting, “People, you know, are trying to point the finger at President Trump, or point the finger at the administration, or the FCC, and we can talk about that.”
“But what they’re missing is a much broader dynamic that’s taking place in the media ecosystem right now. And I do think, frankly, it flows from President Trump.”
“President Trump ran directly at these legacy, mainstream broadcasters, and he smashed the facade that they can dictate what the American people think and what they’re allowed to say.”
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