FCC Member Speaks Out on Regulator Authority
Anna Gomez, a member of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), stated on Thursday that independent regulators lack the power to take action against broadcasters based on their content choices.
“That’s precisely the point—they don’t have the legal standing to do this. It goes against the law, and they can’t follow through, because the FCC is misinformed about both facts and laws,” she asserted.
“The real issue here is the threat itself, and it’s unfortunate that we are conceding little by little. I really need a stronger argument to present against this to help explain the situation to others, including the government,” Gomez expressed.
This comment came shortly after ABC decided to suspend host Jimmy Kimmel’s show indefinitely, following backlash after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Kimmel remarked on a recent episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” “We really hit a new low over the weekend with some people desperately trying to paint this individual who attacked Charlie Kirk as anything but a political statement.”
Just hours before ABC’s announcement, FCC Chair Brendan Kerr and conservative commentator Benny Johnson were discussing on a podcast, where they indicated that broadcasting content must align with community needs and suggested future changes.
The decision from the network came after local affiliates, owned by Nexstar Media Group, revealed they would be preempting Kimmel’s show, a move that was publicly supported by President Trump and other executives.
Some Democratic members criticized Kimmel’s suspension, especially after CBS decided to end “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” earlier this year, and they urged the FCC Chief to resign subsequently.
Kimmel was set to address Kerr’s comments in Wednesday’s show, having discussed the situation previously with Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment. According to reports, senior executives believe Kimmel’s response might only complicate matters further.
Earlier Thursday, Gomez warned that the Trump administration might utilize licensing bodies to intimidate broadcasters. “We view this as a tactic to instill censorship and control. It pressures broadcasters to reconsider what they say about this administration,” she noted at the Axios Media Trends Live Event.
