Trump lacks power to abolish broadcasting licenses held by TV stations, according to FCC's Gomez
In a recent turn of events, two major US station operators, Nexstar Media Group Inc. and Sinclair Television Group, have taken Jimmy Kimmel Live! off the air. This decision was made on Wednesday, following controversial remarks made by the host about political activist Charlie Kirk's assassination.
However, the situation has sparked controversy and outrage, with Democratic lawmakers, Hollywood celebrities, and free-speech advocates voicing their concerns. Anna Gomez, a member of the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has come to Jimmy Kimmel's defence.
Gomez, the lone Democrat on the FCC, has stated that President Donald Trump cannot legally revoke TV station licenses due to disliked content. She argues that Kimmel's show is satire, not news, and there were no violations of the law with the facts presented regarding the programme.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has encouraged local stations to "push back" on coverage that doesn't serve local communities. However, Gomez contends that Carr's statements are attacks on the media, which she believes are unwarranted.
Gomez further stated that there is no basis for revoking any licenses because of the Jimmy Kimmel content or because of normal editorial decisions from a broadcaster. If a formal complaint were filed regarding Kimmel's show, the commission would have to determine if any rules were violated.
It's important to note that individual TV stations in the US need government-issued licenses to operate, as they pay fees to become affiliates of the national networks. The FCC has the authority over TV licenses and has threatened revocation over content issues in the past.
However, according to Gomez, the FCC lacks the authority to take action against broadcasters because of their content. This is a significant point, as it suggests that the Trump administration's use of the threat of license revocations to pressure companies, whether to settle lawsuits or give up their rights as organisations, may be unfounded.
This is a developing story and more information will be released as it becomes available. The article is ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. and was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
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