President Donald Trump has suggested that television networks giving him “bad publicity” should be stripped of their broadcasting licenses, prompting questions about the administration’s authority to take such action.
“I mean, they’re getting a licence. I would think maybe their licence should be taken away,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One while returning from a state visit to the UK.
His remarks followed reports that the administration’s threat of regulatory action led ABC to suspend late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who had criticised Trump supporters in comments about a murder suspect linked to conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
In the United States, broadcast licenses are issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). That raises two key questions: Can the FCC revoke a network’s licence? And what exactly does the FCC regulate?
📡 What the FCC Does
Created in 1934, the FCC was originally tasked with managing scarce radio frequencies and later TV broadcasting. Today, it:
- Issues and renews licenses for local TV and radio stations, not national networks.
- Enforces rules on obscenity, indecency, sponsorship disclosures, and emergency alerts.
- Oversees aspects of telecommunications, including mergers and expanding internet access.
- Does not generally regulate cable or satellite TV channels or online platforms.
While the FCC holds significant authority over local broadcasters, it does not directly control national networks such as ABC, NBC, CBS, or Fox, which distribute programming to local affiliates.
⚖ Licence Revocation Is Rare and Limited
The FCC can revoke a station’s licence for serious violations—such as fraud, felony convictions, or repeated indecent broadcasts—but this is extremely uncommon and requires a formal legal process. Experts note the commission cannot simply strip licenses because a network’s coverage is critical of the president or his administration.
University of Michigan law professor Daniel Deacon points out the FCC does wield indirect influence: “They can effectively kill a deal by telling a broadcasting company they can’t have the licences of the company they’re buying,” he says, referring to the agency’s power over mergers and licence transfers.
🏛 Political Makeup of the FCC
The FCC is run by five commissioners appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, with no more than three commissioners from the same party. The current chair is Brendan Carr, a Republican elevated to the role at the start of Trump’s second term. The other serving commissioners are Democrat Anna Gomez and Republican Olivia Trusty, while two seats remain vacant after recent resignations.
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