FCC Chairman Launches Investigation Into NPR And PBS Over Program Sponsorships — And Warns About Future Government Funding

deadline.com:

New FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has ordered the agency to launch an investigation into underwriting sponsorship announcements that air during PBS and NPR programming, suggesting that they may cross the line “into prohibited commercial advertisements.” But in a letter to the heads of the two networks — first reported by The New York Times — Carr also warned that the public media was facing another congressional battle over federal funding.

Carr, appointed by Donald Trump to his position, said that he would be sending a copy of his letter to members of Congress because “I believe this FCC investigation may prove relevant to an ongoing legislative debate.

In particular, Congress is actively considering whether to stop requiring taxpayers to subsidize NPR and PBS programming.” He also indicated that he opposed federal funding, given the changes in the media landscape.

The FCC’s enforcement bureau is being asked to open the investigation, Carr wrote, adding that he is concerned that the PBS and NPR broadcasts “could be violating the law by airing commercials.” He cited a section of the Communications Act that prohibits a non-commercial station from airing commercials or other promotional announcements “on behalf of fort-profit entities.” After news of the investigation broke, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, wrote on X, “This appears to be yet another Administration effort to weaponize the power of the FCC.