FCC Chair threatens broadcast networks' licenses over war coverage

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr warned that US broadcast networks could face consequences, including the loss of their licenses, if they continue airing what he described as “hoaxes and news distortions” related to coverage of the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

Carr made the comments in a post responding to a statement from President Donald Trump lambasting media reporting about alleged damage to US tanker aircraft in Saudi Arabia.

In his post, Carr said broadcasters that “are running hoaxes and news distortions - also known as the fake news - have a chance now to correct course before their license renewals come up.”

“The law is clear. Broadcasters must operate in the public interest, and they will lose their licenses if they do not,” Carr wrote.

Carr added that correcting course would also be in broadcasters’ financial interests, pointing to declining public trust in legacy media outlets.

“And frankly, changing course is in their own business interests since trust in legacy media has now fallen to an all time low of just 9% and are ratings disasters,” he wrote.

Carr also argued that US broadcasters benefit from public resources through access to the country’s airwaves.

“The American people have subsidized broadcasters to the tune of billions of dollars by providing free access to the nation’s airwaves,” he said. “It is very important to bring trust back into media, which has earned itself the label of fake news.”

His remarks came after Trump posted on Truth Social, accusing several major outlets of publishing misleading headlines about reports that five US tanker aircraft had been destroyed at an airport in Saudi Arabia.

“Yet again, an intentionally misleading headline by the Fake News Media about the five tanker planes that were supposedly struck down at an Airport in Saudi Arabia, and of no further use,” Trump wrote. He added that while the base had been struck days earlier, the aircraft themselves were not destroyed.

“Four of the five had virtually no damage, and are already back in service. One had slightly more damage, but will be in the air shortly,” Trump said. “None were destroyed, or close to that, as the Fake News said in headlines.”

Trump also blamed specific outlets in the post, writing that “The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (in particular), and other Lowlife ‘Papers’ and Media actually want us to lose the War.”

“When a political candidate is able to win a landslide election victory after in the face of hoaxes and distortions, there is something very wrong,” Carr wrote. “It means the public has lost faith and confidence in the media. And we can’t allow that to happen.”

“Time for change!” he added.