FCC Chief Brendan Carr Vows to ‘Constrain’ Network Power for Affiliates

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr Continues Aggressive Pursuit of Media Platforms

FCC chairman Brendan Carr has been making waves in Hollywood with his aggressive pursuit of complaints regarding the editorial content of major media platforms such as “60 Minutes,” NPR, PBS, Disney, and Comcast. Many see his actions as politically motivated and extending beyond the commission’s regulatory reach.

Carr is now hinting at delving into broadcast network affiliation agreements, the contracts between ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox with the TV stations around the country that carry their programming. He has been prompted by complaints from station owners who feel pressured to air programs they would not otherwise carry.

In a Q&A session at the Milken Institute Global Conference, Carr expressed a desire to empower local broadcasters to better serve their communities and address concerns about being forced to air national programs against their wishes.

Carr also suggested reforming the “arcane artificial limits” on TV station ownership, acknowledging the challenges faced by broadcasters in competing with tech giants like Google and Facebook.

While discussing the FCC’s approach to spectrum auctions and other regulatory matters, Carr faced questions about the commission’s review of the pending sale of CBS parent Paramount Global to Skydance Media and the controversial “60 Minutes” complaint involving President Donald Trump.

Carr emphasized that the FCC’s actions regarding “60 Minutes” and the Paramount Global sale are separate from Trump’s lawsuit against the show, which alleges damages related to the handling of an interview with Kamala Harris.

Despite the scrutiny and legal challenges, Carr remains focused on his role at the FCC and praised the commission staff for their work during the first 100 days of Trump 2.0’s administration.