Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., has requested that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) review the broadcast choices of ABC, NBC, and CBS. This request followed the networks’ decision either not to air live or to cut away from President Donald Trump’s address on July 16.
In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Carter asked FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to examine if the networks neglected their duty to “serve the public interest” and if their choices should impact future broadcast license proceedings. “The public airwaves should inform the American people,” wrote Carter, critiquing corporate control over content.
Carter’s letter highlighted concerns about transparency, stating that while networks can critique or fact-check the President, refusing to air his speech over disagreements potentially kept the public uninformed about election security concerns.
According to the letter, Carter maintained that citizens deserve firsthand information from their President to form independent opinions. ABC and NBC did not broadcast Trump’s speech on their main networks; CBS cut away before its conclusion. Streaming the address, said Carter, is not an adequate substitute for free television, especially where broadband access is unreliable.
Following Trump’s speech, the former President suggested revoking ABC and NBC’s licenses, alleging that their refusal to cover his address was part of a broader scheme to mislead the public and protect leftist agendas.
During his more than 20-minute speech, Trump announced the “immediate declassification and release” of intelligence documents outlining vulnerabilities in the U.S. election infrastructure. He stressed the importance of fair elections, stating, “No trust, no greatness.” The White House claimed the documents included information on election system vulnerabilities, China’s alleged access to U.S. voter data, and more. However, Fox News Digital could not independently verify these details.
ABC and NBC later streamed Trump’s speech digitally and provided special summaries on television. CBS initially aired analysts’ commentary, then joined the speech late, cutting away after Trump’s criticism.
Carter insisted the topics of election integrity and national security discussed warranted live broadcast coverage.
Fox News Digital reached out to the FCC and the networks for comments on the matter.
Leave a Reply