In a significant move, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has reinstated complaints concerning the moderation of a pre-election TV debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump by ABC News. The action comes after a push from Donald Trump in September, urging the FCC to cancel licenses for ABC due to dissatisfaction with the network's handling of the 10 September presidential debate. The complaints have also extended to include specific stations of the three major broadcasters, ABC, CBS, and NBC.
The reinstatement of these complaints marks a reversal from previous decisions, notably those made by then-FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel. Rosenworcel had previously dismissed these complaints, stating they were "prematurely based on an insufficient investigatory record." Alongside the debate moderation issue, the complaints also target appearances by Kamala Harris on CBS’s "60 Minutes" and NBC’s "Saturday Night Live." In response to the CBS interview, Trump filed a lawsuit against the network and demanded the release of a transcript.
Despite these developments, some actions were not revisited. Rosenworcel had also rejected a petition that aimed to block the license renewal of a Philadelphia Fox TV station. Brendan Carr, who was appointed FCC chair by Trump, has declined to comment on the complaints but emphasized his focus on media accountability.
"Taking a look at media and making sure they live up to their public interest obligation" – Brendan Carr
On the other hand, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, representing the Democratic perspective, has voiced concerns over the potential implications of using licensing authority as a tool against media freedom.
"We cannot allow our licensing authority to be weaponized to curtail freedom of the press. The First Amendment is a pillar of American democracy, and our country needs a press free from interference from regulators like me" – Anna Gomez
The FCC's action comes amidst increasing scrutiny over how media outlets handle political content and debates. The commission issues licenses to individual broadcast stations for eight-year terms, not to networks themselves. As of now, NBC, Walt Disney-owned ABC, and Paramount’s CBS have not provided comments on the reinstated complaints.