WASHINGTON — Two Federal Communications Commission officials on Thursday expressed deep concern about an investigation launched by newly-crowned FCC chair Brendan Carr, elevated to his position by President Donald Trump, into public broadcasters PBS and NPR. Carr, a longtime critic of the networks, also called for their federal funding to be cut off by Congress.

What You Need To Know

  • Two Federal Communications Commission officials on Thursday expressed deep concern about an investigation launched by newly-crowned FCC chair Brendan Carr, elevated to his position by President Donald Trump, into public broadcasters PBS and NPR
  • Carr, a longtime critic of the networks, also called for their federal funding to be cut off by Congress
  • The probe into NPR and PBS accuses them of violating laws by their member stations accepting paid advertising from for-profit companies
  • Last week, Carr revived complaints against CBS, ABC and NBC broadcast stations over CBS’ editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during the campaign, ABC’s fact-checking of Trump during a presidential debate and NBC putting Harris on an episode of "Saturday Night Live"

The investigation, first reported by the New York Times, comes one week after Carr revived complaints against CBS, ABC and NBC stations over alleged bias towards Trump. The president has expressed a desire to punish media outlets who he views as his political enemies and exert greater direct control over independent federal agencies, like the FCC.

The probe into NPR and PBS was announced to the organizations in a letter from Carr on Wednesday and published by the Times on Thursday that details the FCC chair’s concerns that PBS and NPR, which receive public funding, are violating laws by their member stations accepting paid advertising from for-profit companies.

“I am concerned that NPR and PBS broadcasts could be violating federal law by airing commercials,” Carr wrote. “In particular, it is possible that NPR and PBS member stations are broadcasting underwriting announcements that cross the line into prohibited commercial advertisements.”

“For my own part, I do not see a reason why Congress should continue sending taxpayer dollars to NPR and PBS given the changes in the media marketplace since the passage of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967,” he continued, adding the commercial advertisements “undermine any case for continuing to fund NPR and PBS with taxpayer dollars” in his eyes.

Carr has advocated for Congress to cut off funding to NPR and PBS, who the U.S. right wing has long viewed as liberal and biased against conservatives. The FCC does not have direct regulatory authority over the networks, but instead holds authority over the licenses for the roughly 1,500 public broadcasters in the United States that have relationships with PBS and NPR.

NPR receives about 1% of its funding from the federal government each year and PBS receives about 16%, according to NPR. 

FCC commissioner Anna Gomez, appointed by President Joe Biden, said in a statement that Carr’s letter appeared to be an attempt by the Trump administration “to weaponize the power of the FCC.”

“The FCC has no business intimidating and silencing broadcast media,” Gomez said.

Geoffrey Starks, a Democratic-affiliated FCC commissioner appointed by Trump during his first term and re-appointed by Biden, said Carr’s probe “gives me serious concern.”

“Any attempt to intimidate these local media outlets is a threat to the free flow of information and the marketplace of ideas,” Starks said in a statement.

Requests for comment sent to Carr, the FCC and another commissioner appointed by Trump during his first term, Nathan Simington, did not immediately receive responses.

NPR president and CEO Katherine Maher said in a statement she was confident in NPR’s adherence to federal laws and regulations. PBS said it welcomed the review of their practices and expressed confidence they were in compliance.

“PBS is proud of the noncommercial educational programming we provide to all Americans through our member stations,” PBS said in a statement. “We work diligently to comply with the FCC’s underwriting regulations and welcome the opportunity to demonstrate that to the Commission.”

Last week, Carr revived complaints against CBS, ABC and NBC broadcast stations over CBS’ editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Vice President Kamala Harris during the campaign, ABC’s fact-checking of Trump during a presidential debate and NBC putting Harris on an episode of "Saturday Night Live." His predecessor, Jessica Rosenworcel, had dismissed the complaints earlier this month before her departure.

“These are not frivolous complaints at the end of the day,” Carr said on a podcast earlier this week.