FCC Chairman Accuses Democrats of Distortion

On Monday, FCC Chairman Brendan Kerr took aim at Democrats, accusing them of “prediction and distortion.” This accusation emerged amidst calls from members of the Biden administration and Congress for the agency to regulate certain television networks, claiming it was not in line with the interests of everyday Americans.

Kerr made these comments at the Concordia conference in New York, coinciding with Disney’s decision to pull Jimmy Kimmel’s show from its schedule.

This situation has led to remarks from both Democrats and Republicans—including Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX)—who deemed it an infringement on free speech.

In a light-hearted exchange, Kerr suggested that most Americans don’t concern themselves much with issues related to the Federal Communications Commission. He pointed to the end of “net neutrality” regulations from the Obama era, which he claimed had been exaggerated in media reports.

He remarked, “I think these claims hold as much validity as the discussions surrounding Jimmy Kimmel’s show.” Kerr elaborated that many Democrats are involved in a campaign driven by projection and distortion.

He mentioned that some Senate Democrats had made veiled threats about revoking licenses for Disney and ABC, although he asserted that no such thing occurred.

Kerr further explained the need for a balance between major national networks like Disney and local stations regarding the type of content aired. He stated, “When holding a broadcast license, it is essential to cater to public interest, and we have established standards regarding news distortion complaints.”

Continuing, he noted, “Last week, concerns were raised about news distortions, and I suggested that there’s an easily navigable resolution available to both FCC-licensed TV stations and national programmers like Disney. Complaints can be filed with the FCC, which will have to address them based on congressional guidelines.”

According to Kerr, he has not publicly shared any personal opinions on the specific merits of the Jimmy Kimmel episode but is focused on empowering local stations to better serve their communities.

He pointed out that national programmers often don’t have public interest obligations enforced by the FCC, which allows them more freedom, particularly in prime time slots.

Kerr expressed concern that national programming is increasingly dominating local stations, leaving those in the communities feeling unable to push back, even when they believe the content lacks relevance to local audiences.

“Local TV stations are for the first time in a while asserting they don’t want to run certain programs,” he added, noting his prior attempts in June to reform FCC broadcasting rules to enhance local journalism.

He mentioned past communications where Disney was viewed as trying to leverage financial and operational concessions from local stations while threatening to sever longstanding affiliations.

A former FCC aide suggested that lifting national ownership caps would empower local broadcasters, thus safeguarding community interests.

Kerr concluded by pointing out that many of the Democrats who are currently decrying his actions were previously calling for censorship of opposing views.

He recalled instances when Senate Democrats demanded the FCC revoke Sinclair’s broadcast licenses during Trump’s presidency. He highlighted that the FCC did not renew Sinclair’s license under Biden’s administration.

In March of 2023, key Democratic leaders contacted Fox Corp. to demand that host Rupert Murdoch cease promoting narratives about false elections.

In 2021, Democrats pressured cable and streaming providers to limit the reach of channels like Fox News, citing concerns over the spread of misinformation.

Kerr also indicated that the Biden administration has been pushing social media companies to censor “everyday Americans,” reiterating his belief that the intense focus from Democrats is a matter of “projection and distortion.”