FCC Investigates ABC's The View Under Equal-Time Rules as Trump-Era Agency Reverses 40-Year Free-Speech Stance
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 14
FCC Investigates ABC's The View Under Equal-Time Rules as Trump-Era Agency Reverses 40-Year Free-Speech Stance
5 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 14
Brendan Carr’s FCC is examining whether ABC’s “The View” violated federal “equal opportunities” rules by featuring political candidates without giving rivals comparable access.
The probe follows January guidance warning late-night hosts they could face retaliation if they book one candidate and not an opponent, unless the appearance qualifies as a bona fide news interview.
Carr has tied the tougher approach to conservative complaints that broadcast shows lean left and invite Democrats more often than Republicans.
The move marks a sharp break from Reagan-era FCC policy: former chairman Mark Fowler helped scrap the Fairness Doctrine in 1987, arguing government should not police broadcasters’ editorial choices.
Will stricter FCC oversight of talk shows ultimately enhance or silence diverse voices on air?
How can broadcast fairness rules exist when streaming and social media play by different rules?