FCC Commissioner Rebukes Agency's Chair, Says We Don't Have the Authority' To Retaliate Against Broadcasters

"Well, first of all, we don't license the networks, Gomez replied. We license local broadcasters. So, there is no license to pull for the networks. The local broadcasters get some programming from the networks. But second of all, we are governed by the First Amendment and by the Communications Act, which prohibits us from censoring broadcasters. So no, we cannot pull local broadcasters' licenses simply because they air content that he does not like."

"Frankly, when you see stuff like this, I mean look, we can do this the easy way or the hard way," he said. "These companies can find ways to change conduct and take action, frankly, on Kimmel, or there's going to be additional work for the FCC ahead."

FCC Chair Brendan Carr threatened action against ABC and Jimmy Kimmel after Kimmel falsely characterized the suspected killer of Charlie Kirk. Carr warned the FCC could punish networks or local stations and pressured companies to change conduct. ABC suspended Kimmel's show hours later, and President Trump celebrated the suspension while suggesting license revocations for stations whose talent criticizes him. A commissioner rebuked those threats, clarified that the FCC licenses local broadcasters not networks, and emphasized that the First Amendment and the Communications Act prohibit the FCC from censoring broadcasters or pulling licenses over content.

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