New Chairman Moves Quickly on Several Fronts

Posted on January 31st, 2025 by

New FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has had a very busy first eleven days in office, issuing a flurry of notices, announcements, letters and other statements.

In response to President Trump’s Executive Order eliminating government diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and policies, Chairman Carr issued a public notice eliminating all FCC DEI initiatives undertaken by the prior administration. He stated that the FCC will be focused on its statutory mission without promoting invidious forms of discrimination. The FCC’s existing EEO rules for broadcasters are not affected by the DEI policy elimination.

The Chairman also announced staff appointments, including his senior counsel for Media and Enforcement matters, Erin Boone.  In a separate announcement, Carr named acting chiefs of the various FCC Bureaus and named Ms. Boone as acting Media Bureau Chief.  She previously served as chief of staff for Republican Commissioner Nathan Simington.

Quickly following her appointment as Acting Media Bureau Chief, Ms. Boone issued orders reversing three decisions made by the Media Bureau in the final days of the prior administration — a political advertising equal opportunities complaint, a news distortion complaint against a Philadelphia television station, and another against a New York television station.  In each case, the basis for the reversal of the decision and reinstatement of the complaint was that there was not a sufficient period for investigating the complaint allegations.  FCC Commissioner Gomez issued a statement opposing the complaint reinstatements.

Carr also sent a letter to PBS and NPR notifying them that he had requested the FCC’s Enforcement Bureau, with assistance from the Media Bureau, launch an investigation to determine whether their stations are complying with the noncommercial nature of their licenses. In particular, the investigation will consider whether “NPR and PBS member stations are broadcasting underwriting announcements that cross the line into prohibited commercial advertisements. The letter notes that the investigatory findings may be relevant to Congress’ decision on whether to continue providing funds to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a percentage of which is received by NPR and PBS stations. As of this writing, the Enforcement Bureau had not yet initiated any proceedings. Commissioners Gomez and Starks issued statements opposing Carr’s actions.

Carr also took other actions not affecting broadcasters, halting a rulemaking on internet bulk-billing for apartments or multi-tenant units.