Following the war in Iran, some government officials have argued that media reporting has been skewed or has not provided fair coverage of the United States (U.S.). Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Brandon Carr posed the notion of revoking broadcast licenses from stations that do. This raised the question: What does the FCC actually do?
Established by the Communications Act of 1934, the Federal Communications Commission is an independent government agency that regulates public media and ensures practices like equal access and fair use.
School of Media and Communications Assistant Professor, Dr. Bailey Dick, shares how the original intent of the FCC still impacts how the agency operates today.
“Their job originally was to ensure there is some regulation to content, but also who has access to all of us. They do give licenses, and they are capable of revoking those licenses if you violate some kind of the very basic common standard of broadcast regulations,” Dick said.
According to Dick, the FCC’s purpose is to serve as a buffer for the processing and distribution of media. Though they do not directly control what news licenses choose to share, they are responsible for regulating specific aspects of broadcasting.
From the FCC official website, “There are two issues related to broadcast journalism that are subject to commission regulation: hoaxes and news distortion.”
The rules of the FCC are set to be interpreted to protect the media while maintaining the protections of the First Amendment.
“The FCC is not a legal enforcement entity, because of the First Amendment, they can’t say this counts as free speech, or this doesn’t count as free speech. Just because you have a license doesn’t mean they have control over what you say,” Dick said.
The U.S. operates with state-funded media, making it possible for educational programs to be administered to the public.
“We used to have state-funded media through the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. So the reason you’ve got PBS and Sesame Street is through government funding,” Dick said.
On the other hand, state-regulated media is the alternative and compared to state-run media, it is more tightly controlled.
“Most totalitarian countries have a state-regulated media system where, either overtly or subverted, there’s some kind of content that is not just obscene or indecent but makes the country look bad, is not allowed,” Dick said.
Revoking licenses is within FCC jurisdiction, just not based on political disagreements or personal interpretations.
“They do give licenses, and they are capable of revoking those licenses if you violate some of the very basic common standards of broadcast regulations,” Dick said. “Usually when licenses get revoked, it’s for when you repeatedly violate FCC rules in a way that harms the public.”
So, the FCC has the jurisdiction to give and take away licenses; however, they will not and can not do so based on what opinion government officials have.
Former FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel released a statement in 2024 about revoking broadcast licenses.
“The FCC does not and will not revoke licenses for broadcast stations simply because a political candidate disagrees with or dislikes content or coverage.”
Media outlets of all sizes operate under these guidelines. WBGU-FM, licensed in Bowling Green, broadcasts from the Michael and Sara Kuhlin Center and must abide by FCC regulations as it operates on public airwaves. Falcon Radio, however, is a streaming-only radio station, meaning it does not abide by FCC guidelines as it does not hold a broadcast license.
