Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai on Thursday, April 12, rejected a request from a dozen senators to investigate Sinclair Broadcast Group for “distorting news” coverage.
The senators, 11 Democrats and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont), asked the FCC to review Sinclair’s broadcast license and pause its proposed merger after the company had anchors across the country read scripted promos warning of “fake news” and media bias.
However, Pai turned down their request, saying an investigation would conflict with his commitment to the First Amendment and freedom of the press, according to a letter obtained by Breitbart.
“I understand that you disliked or disagreed with the content of particular broadcasts, but I can hardly think of an action more chilling of free speech than the federal government investigating a broadcast station because of disagreement with its news coverage,” Pai wrote.
He added that the FCC “does not have the authority to revoke a license of a broadcast station based on the content of a particular newscast.”
Full Content: Washington Post
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
Shein Warns of Higher Costs for French Shoppers Amid EU Fee Proposal
May 22, 2025 by
CPI
DOJ Opens Antitrust Probe of Google’s AI Partnership with Character.AI
May 22, 2025 by
CPI
Google’s Unbundling Offer Puts Korean Regulators in Tight Spot
May 22, 2025 by
CPI
Justice Department and FTC Warn Common Ownership Could Breach Antitrust Law
May 22, 2025 by
CPI
South Africa Approves Canal+ MultiChoice Deal
May 21, 2025 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Industrial Policy
May 21, 2025 by
CPI
Industrial Strategy and the Role of Competition – Taking a Business Lens
May 21, 2025 by
Marcus Bokkerink
Industrial Policy, Antitrust, and Economic Growth: Some Observations
May 21, 2025 by
David S. Evans
Bolder by Design: Crafting Pro-Competitive Industrial Policies For Complex Challenges
May 21, 2025 by
Antonio Capobianco & Beatriz Marques
Competition-Friendly Industrial Policy
May 21, 2025 by
Philippe Aghion, Mathias Dewatripont & Patrick Legros