FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
WASHINGTON

OFFICE OF
THE CHAIRMAN

April 12, 2018

The Honorable Maria Cantwell
United States Senate
511 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Senator Cantwell:
Thank you for your letter requesting that the Commission investigate a broadcaster based
on the content of its news coverage and promotion of that coverage. In light of my commitment
to protecting the First Amendment and freedom of the press, I must respectfully decline.
A free media is vital to our democracy. That is why during my time at the Commission I
have consistently opposed any effort to infringe upon the freedom of the press and have fought to
here, I
eliminate regulations that impede the gathering and dissemination of news. Most relevant
a
of
have repeatedly made clear that the FCC does not have the authority to revoke a license
broadcast station based on the content of a particular newscast.
I understand that you disliked or disagreed with the content of particular broadcasts, but I
can hardly think of an action more chilling of free speech than the federal government
investigating a broadcast station because of disagreement with its news coverage or promotion of
that coverage. Instead, I agree with Senator Markey that "[a]ny insinuation that elected officials
ta
could use the levers of government to control or sensor [sic] the news media would represen
the
reaffirm
to
ity
startling degradation of the freedom of the press." I also take this opportun
commitment I made to several members of the Senate Commerce Committee last year that the
Commission under my leadership would "not act in a manner that violates the First Amendment
and stifles or penalizes free speech by electronic media, directly or indirectly."
Thank you for your interest, and let me know if I can be of further assistance.