TV Affiliation Agreement Scrutiny and News Distortion Headline Latest Public Interest Battleground

The Media Bureau issued a Public Notice November 19^th seeking comment on TV station public interest obligations in the context of television network affiliation agreements.  The notice seeks comment on the current broadcast television market, regulatory and contractual dynamics governing the relationship between local TV stations and national TV programmers and in particular on whether national programming networks are exerting undue influence or control over affiliate stations that hinder or create an imbalance with a station’s obligation to act in the public interest.  Comments are due quickly — on December 10 — with reply comments by December 24.

In addition, after receiving a letter from some members of Congress urging the repeal of the FCC’s news distortion rule, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr pushed back, responding in part by issuing a letter to the BBC, PBS and NPR regarding splicing of video content from a 2021 Trump speech. Carr’s letter states “as you may know, broadcasters regulated by the FCC have a legal obligation to operate in the public interest. Those public interest requirements include prohibitions on news distortion and broadcast hoaxes. After all, the FCC has stated that “rigging or slanting the news is a most heinous act against the public interest.” I am committed to holding broadcasters accountable to their public interest obligations, and your prompt response will help aid me in that effort.”