Trump FCC faces blowback in attempt to police speech on broadcast TV

The Federal Communications Commission, under Chairman Brendan Carr, is drawing criticism from both conservatives and liberals over its efforts to regulate speech on broadcast television. Liberals, including advocacy groups, are urging Carr to cease his attacks on ABC, a network owned by President Trump. Conversely, conservatives are warning Carr that his actions could set a dangerous precedent for future administrations.

Former FCC leaders from both political parties have also spoken out against Carr's "campaign to censor disfavored speech and advance the president’s personal interest."

The FCC has taken the unprecedented step of ordering early license-renewal applications for the eight TV stations that ABC owns and operates. This move has prompted petitions from both sides of the political spectrum. The Center for American Rights, a conservative organization, has filed a petition to deny ABC's license renewals.

They claim that ABC has engaged in "news distortion" by biasing its reporting against Republicans and President Trump. Similarly, the Media Research Center, another conservative group, has filed its own petition to deny the license renewals.

The controversy surrounding Carr's actions has sparked a heated debate about the role of the FCC in regulating speech on broadcast media. Critics argue that Carr's efforts could be used to silence voices they disagree with, while supporters see the FCC's actions as necessary to ensure fair and balanced reporting.