News that the Chairman of the FCC is ready to examine the fine line between underwriting support and paid advertisement, and if either PBS or NPR have stepped over that line improperly, has been met with derision by the two Democrats who sit on the Commission.
Geoffrey Starks issued a statement in response to Carr’s decision to open an investigation into the underwriting practices of NPR and PBS member stations.
It is all but three sentences, but makes it clear that an ideological war — one Democrats don’t have enough votes to win — is rapidly taking shape.
“Public television and radio stations play a significant role in our media ecosystem,” Starks said. “Any attempt to intimidate these local media outlets is a threat to the free flow of information and the marketplace of ideas. The announcement of this investigation gives me serious concern.”
Shortly after Starks’ statement was posted to the FCC website, Anna M. Gómez, the junior Democrat on the Commission, shared a statement of her own that was equally derisive of Chairman Carr’s plan.
“This appears to be yet another Administration effort to weaponize the power of the FCC,” she said. “The FCC has no business intimidating and silencing broadcast media.”
