The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is supposed to be an independent agency. It was created by Congress to make sure U.S. communication laws are followed and fairly enforced.
But since President Trump appointed Brendan Carr as FCC Chairman, the agency has taken a dangerous turn. It has used its power to go after independent news outlets—especially those the President has publicly criticized. This includes threats to cancel licenses and opening biased investigations.
These actions are meant to intimidate the media and silence dissent. That’s not what the FCC was created to do. A free press is a cornerstone of democracy, and it must be protected.
Here’s what you can do:
Call on the FCC to reaffirm its commitment to independence and service to the public by:
- Protecting and respecting the human right to freedom of expression, including free press and closing politically motivated investigations that weaponize FCC authority.
- Conduct investigations with transparency, impartiality and independence.
- Ending interference with the independence of media outlets and their internal DEI programs.
Write to:
Chairman Brendan Carr
Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
45 L Street NE
Washington, DC 20554, USA
Email/website: brendan.carr@fcc.gov / www.fcc.gov
Salutation: Dear Chairman Carr,
And copy:
Mrs. Marybeth Krumm Turner
Minister-Counsellor & Chargé d’affaires, a.i.
Embassy of the United States of America
490 Sussex Drive
Ottawa, ON K1N 1G8
Tel: (613) 238-5335 / 688-5335 (24h) Fax: (613) 688-3082
What the FCC is supposed to do
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is the U.S. agency in charge of regulating communications across the country. According to its own website, the FCC manages radio, TV, wire, satellite, and cable communications across all 50 states, Washington, D.C., and U.S. territories.
It’s meant to act independently from the White House. It was set up by Congress to carry out and enforce communication laws fairly—not to serve the political interests of any president.
What’s actually happening
Recently, the FCC has used its powers in troubling ways. Instead of staying neutral, it appears to be pushing a political agenda—targeting media outlets and journalists that President Trump has publicly criticized.
On February 18, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14215, titled “Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies.” This order tries to make agencies like the FCC—which by law report to Congress—accountable to the president instead.
Since then, the FCC has taken actions that raise serious red flags:
- On January 21, 2025, Chairman Carr ended all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at the FCC, following Trump’s executive orders ending DEI across the federal government.
- On January 22, 2025, the FCC reopened a complaint against CBS for alleged “news distortion” about a Kamala Harris interview. This case had just been dismissed four days earlier, before Trump took office. In October 2024, Trump had sued CBS over the same interview, claiming voter interference.
- On January 29, 2025, the FCC announced investigations into NPR and PBS. Both are publicly funded and serve rural and marginalized communities. Chairman Carr claimed they violated commercial laws, even though they are legally prohibited from airing ads.
- On February 11, 2025, Chairman Carr began using FCC rules to target private companies’ DEI programs. He opened investigations into Comcast and NBC Universal, accusing them of discrimination and calling it part of a broader effort to eliminate DEI practices across the industry.
- On February 27, 2025, the FCC opened an investigation into Verizon’s DEI-related hiring practices while the company awaited approval to merge with Frontier Communications.
These actions are being justified using Trump’s executive orders—even though the FCC is legally supposed to stay independent.
Why this matters
These moves show a dangerous pattern: the U.S. government is using an independent agency to go after the media. This can silence journalists, limit what the public knows, and chill freedom of expression.
Free press is essential to any democracy. Journalists help uncover abuse, raise up unheard voices, and bring truth to light. When they are targeted, it harms everyone.
The FCC must return to its original role. It must reject political interference and stand up for the human right to free expression. Only then can we protect a media landscape that informs, challenges, and empowers us all.
Please take action as soon as possible until July 14, 2025. The UA will be duly updated should there be the need for further action.
