The Federal Communications Chair Brendan Carr is leading investigations into NPR and PBS aimed at potentially cutting government funding. Carr expressed concerns regarding possible violations of federal law, asserting that member stations might be airing commercials instead of adhering to FCC underwriting regulations. Both organizations defend their practices as compliant. Furthermore, Carr's actions align with a broader agenda from the Trump administration aiming to limit public funding for media perceived to exhibit bias against conservatives. This situation reflects ongoing tensions over public media funding and its implications for free speech and information dissemination.
Carr's move is in line with other Trump administration efforts to cut funding for public goods and services. Carr, who Trump appointed to the commission in 2017, wrote the Project 2025 chapter on the FCC.
'To the extent that taxpayer dollars are being used to support a for profit endeavor or an entity that is airing commercial advertisements, then that would further undermine any case for continuing to fund NPR and PBS with taxpayer dollars.'
Both PBS and NPR's chief executives told the Times that their advertising complies with the FCC's underwriting regulations. 'I am concerned that NPR and PBS broadcasts could be violating federal law by airing commercials,' the letter reads.
The Heritage Foundation is by no means the only conservative organization to target with NPR. The public radio station and its local affiliates have long been targets of the right.
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