Protect Democracy submitted comments to the FCC on behalf of a bipartisan group: former FCC Chairs Alfred Sikes (R) and Tom Wheeler (D), plus former Commissioners Rachelle Chong (R), Gloria Tristani (D), and Ervin Duggan (D).

Across Republican and Democratic administrations, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has been committed to acting as an independent agency, respecting the free speech rights of broadcasters, and disclaiming any role in censoring the news media. However, it recently reopened a proceeding against WCBS-TV that departs significantly from this historical practice. According to the comments’ signatories, by reopening this complaint, the Commission is signaling to broadcasters that it will closely scrutinize the content of news coverage and threaten the regulatory licenses of broadcasters whose news coverage does not pass muster with the President. 

The signatories recommend that the Commission reverse course and reaffirm long-held commitment to acting as an independent agency rather than the White House’s personal censor. Read their comments below: