FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's War on the First Amendment

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, a Republican, has announced a vote scheduled for August 6th to eliminate the national ownership cap that prevents a single company from owning broadcast stations reaching more than 39% of US TV households. Carr argues that the rise of social media and streaming platforms has made the rule obsolete.

A new bipartisan bill, the JAWBONE Act, introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR), would allow individuals to sue government officials who illegally coerce social media, AI, or broadcasting companies to remove content. The bill also includes transparency requirements for government communications with such platforms.

Several former FCC commissioners and staffers from both parties have petitioned a federal appeals court to force the FCC to vote on repealing the News Distortion Policy. Carr had invoked this policy to pressure ABC into temporarily suspending comedian Jimmy Kimmel's show. The petitioners argue the policy has been weaponized.

The FCC's Media Bureau is soliciting public comments on whether the TV ratings system properly handles children's programming that includes transgender or nonbinary characters. Carr testified before the Senate Commerce Committee, defending his actions and denying that his threats over broadcast licenses were related to coverage of the war in Iran.

Carr also proposed revising a Biden-era transparency rule that requires internet service providers to itemize every fee on monthly bills, claiming it may confuse customers. Additionally, the FCC has launched an investigation into a BBC documentary that featured a misleading edit of a Donald Trump speech, sending letters to the BBC, PBS, and NPR.

Jimmy Kimmel returned to television with a monologue mocking Carr and emphasizing the importance of free speech, stating he had taken it for granted until Carr's actions.