Legislation to Protect Media from Political Attack
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US Senate bill would protect the independence of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and uphold the First Amendment
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The proposed legislation aims to prevent any revocation of broadcast licenses based on the viewpoints expressed by broadcasters.
Senator Lujan highlighted the urgency of the bill in response to previous administration actions. "The Trump administration's weaponization of the FCC and intimidation of broadcast stations for political purposes is a serious threat to the First Amendment," he stated. "The FCC and the President should not have the power to revoke broadcasting licenses and censor free speech simply because they disagree with the viewpoints that are broadcasted."
The bill stipulates that the FCC must operate as an independent agency, free from political pressures and retaliatory actions based on the content it oversees. It also explicitly prohibits the FCC from revoking any licenses or authorizations based on broadcast viewpoints or imposing conditions on transaction approvals influenced by such viewpoints.
