Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., has called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate broadcast decisions made by ABC, NBC, and CBS. The request follows the networks’ choice to either not air or cut away from President Donald Trump’s July 16 primetime address.
In a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Carter urged a review of whether these actions align with the networks’ obligation to “serve the public interest.” He suggested that their decisions could impact future broadcast license evaluations.
The public airwaves should inform the American people, not be used by corporate executives to decide which matters of national importance they are permitted to hear,Carter wrote.
Carter expressed his concerns, arguing that broadcasters can challenge or fact-check the President’s statements while still airing the address. The refusal to air a major presidential speech was seen by Carter as an attempt to withhold information on potential foreign interference in elections from the public.
He emphasized that all Americans, regardless of political affiliation, deserved to hear the information directly from their President. Carter criticized ABC, NBC, and CBS for their decisions during the broadcast, highlighting CBS’s choice to cut away before Trump completed his remarks.
Carter also pointed out that streaming the speech online was not a viable substitute for traditional broadcast television, especially for viewers lacking reliable internet access.
President Trump, in his address, accused the networks of being involved in a “plot” to conceal corruption and protect specific political interests. He called for the revocation of ABC’s and NBC’s broadcast licenses.
Trump utilized his speech to announce the release of intelligence documents that he claimed revealed vulnerabilities in the election infrastructure, including alleged issues with voting systems and foreign interference.
The released documents, according to the White House, involved purported vulnerabilities in election systems, China’s alleged acquisition of U.S. voter data, and investigations into voter registration in Michigan, among other concerns. However, Fox News Digital could not independently verify the document details.
ABC and NBC streamed Trump’s speech on digital platforms before later broadcasting summarized reports, while CBS offered initial analysis before joining and later leaving Trump’s speech.
Carter argued that the subjects discussed in Trump’s address, involving election integrity and national security, warranted live coverage on major networks.
Fox News Digital reached out to the FCC, ABC News, NBC News, and CBS News for their comments.