FCC's Carr Ethics Complaint

[TheBigA]

We've been discussing a number of issues lately involving the FCC's Chairman Brendan Carr. His various investigations into NPR, ABC, CBS, Audacy and more. Now the Freedom of the Press Foundation has taken him to court for an ethics complaint. Is it unethical for a government agency head to act in a partisan political way, promoting the agenda of a president, rather than promoting the interests of the American people? That's the question being asked:

FCC Chair Faces Ethics Complaint Over 'Egregious Misconduct' - Radio Ink

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is facing a formal ethics complaint from the Freedom of the Press Foundation, alleging legal misconduct.

radioink.com

The one I'm interested in is his targeting of DEI programs at companies. He's carrying out an executive order, not a federal law or even an FCC rule. It would be useful for someone to clarify what is so egregious about DEI programs. Were EOE laws repealed? If so, I hadn't heard about it.

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

True the FCC has to protect the American Interests of the people but that’s rife with Chairman Carr outright interfering with the first amendment in ones we mentioned in past threads. But that gets connected with the White House outright “banning” certain news outlets from the White House press pool because of certain things the president does not like as seen in the White House lawsuit against NewsCorp and Wall Street Journal.

But in this case it’s also being tied to the Paramount-Skydance deal.

The July 28 complaint urges the court’s Office of Disciplinary Counsel to investigate what the group calls a “pattern of egregious misconduct,” including Carr’s decision to revive dormant “news distortion” cases against CBS, NBC, and ABC, as well as his role in pressuring companies over Diversity, Equity and Inclusion efforts and media mergers.

The complaint escalates a months-long campaign led by the foundation’s advocacy director Seth Stern, who argues that Carr’s actions as a licensed attorney in DC run afoul of professional conduct rules requiring impartiality and truthfulness. In a statement reported by the newsletter Status, the foundation said Carr “brazenly violated legal and ethical standards,” misused the FCC’s power, and sought to “force an unwarranted settlement of a private lawsuit.”

The group also cites Carr’s involvement in the Paramount-Skydance merger and public criticisms of corporate DEI efforts as examples of what it considers politically motivated enforcement.

Then again the orders and strategy are coming from the Oval Office and how that gets carried out. Yes the FCC, CPB and White House Press Pool was supposed to be shielded from political interference but that’s not how this is going in practice.

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Six months into US President Donald Trump’s second term, his administration has become increasingly hostile towards the press, both mimicking and inspiring authoritarian and quasi-authoritarian regimes around the world. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warns of the dangers of a transnational...

rsf.org

 

[TheBigA]

This report says the complaint was filed with the DC Bar, not the DC Court of Appeals:

Press Group Alleges FCC Chair Of ‘Shakedown’ In Ethics Complaint Over Merger Review.

The Freedom of the Press Foundation has reportedly filed a legal ethics complaint against FCC Chair Brendan Carr, alleging he helped pressure Paramount into settling a Trump lawsuit to clear

www.insideradio.com

Other reports say it was filed with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel at the DC Court of Appeals:

Press Freedom Group Seeks To Disbar Carr For Political Moves | Radio & Television Business Report

It is a group dedicated to protecting journalists and their sources, and in March made it clear that Brendan Carr's decision to investigate "news distortion" claims at the FCC made against CBS News "is a scare tactic, spectacle and show trial." Now, a liberal-leaning foundation has taken its...

rbr.com

Press Freedom Group Seeks To Disbar Carr For Political Moves | Radio & Television Business Report

It is a group dedicated to protecting journalists and their sources, and in March made it clear that Brendan Carr's decision to investigate "news distortion" claims at the FCC made against CBS News "is a scare tactic, spectacle and show trial." Now, a liberal-leaning foundation has taken its...

rbr.com

 

[gr8oldies]

We've been discussing a number of issues lately involving the FCC's Chairman Brendan Carr. His various investigations into NPR, ABC, CBS, Audacy and more. Now the Freedom of the Press Foundation has taken him to court for an ethics complaint. Is it unethical for a government agency head to act in a partisan political way, promoting the agenda of a president, rather than promoting the interests of the American people? That's the question being asked:

FCC Chair Faces Ethics Complaint Over 'Egregious Misconduct' - Radio Ink

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is facing a formal ethics complaint from the Freedom of the Press Foundation, alleging legal misconduct.

radioink.com

The one I'm interested in is his targeting of DEI programs at companies. He's carrying out an executive order, not a federal law or even an FCC rule. It would be useful for someone to clarify what is so egregious about DEI programs. Were EOE laws repealed? If so, I hadn't heard about it.

Uniformity, inequity and exclusion replaces DEI. Add inaccessibility too. EOE laws weren't repealed, but the Trump DOJ will only enforce them if there aren't enough white people

 

[TheBigA]

Uniformity, inequity and exclusion replaces DEI. Add inaccessibility too. EOE laws weren't repealed, but the Trump DOJ will only enforce them if there aren't enough white people

In the same way that they're charging some Jewish people with being antisemitic. Do they not understand what that word means?

I'd really like to hear Carr explain why the FCC, an agency charged with regulating communications, is so concerned about DEI. How does that affect communications directly. It seems like he's trying to regulate something that's better suited to a different agency. Other than he feels he's carrying out an executive order. I thought the FCC was directed by congress and regulates using laws, not orders.

The main part of this though is to examine the role of an FCC Chairman. He's been asked about weaponization before, and his answer always brings up the previous administration. To me, that isn't answering the question.

 

[kwthom]

Our current president is a creature of the media - full stop. For twenty-odd years before his first presidency, the goal was to be seen by millillions.

Thus, control of the media is perceived by him and others in his orbit as a way of controlling the narrative. After all, it's not been that great for him here in the last few months, has it?

 

[TheBigA]

Carr has responded to the criticism:

Carr Pushes Back On Claims Of FCC Politicization, Defends Media Investigations.

FCC Chair Brendan Carr is responding to several inquiries from congressional Democrats about how he has run the Commission since taking charge in January. In one of his more pointed

www.insideradio.com

He says he has been even handed.

He repeated his complaint that the Audacy bankruptcy was approved without taking comments or other departments. He ignores the fact that the company chose not to pursue a Foreign Ownership Waiver because it was under the 25% limit. Repub politicians pushed the idea with no proof that the Soros investment posed some kind of security threat. That in itself delayed the process and ultimately took the decision from the Media Bureau to the full commissioners.

 

[Don CT]

Why is the FCC board not independently appointed.

 

[TheBigA]

Why is the FCC board not independently appointed.

It's not a board. The FCC is a regulatory agency, so its commissioners are all appointed by the president. They report to and are overseen by congress.

It was established by the Communications Act of 1934, with that system.

 

[Don CT]

It's not a board. The FCC is a regulatory agency, so its commissioners are all appointed by the president. They report to and are overseen by congress.

It was established by the Communications Act of 1934, with that system.

When a president appoints them they have a bias.

 

[Delete My Account]

I love how Carr's position is "I'm just undoing something" but he never proved it was being done in the first place.

As with many things in society, the starting point is flawed. Before accepting that you need to change or reverse something, you need to prove to me that it was actually happening.

 

[ted chittenden]

When a president appoints them they have a bias.

The way it's supposed to work is that the President and his Party can have three of the five commissioners: the Chair and two additional commissioners. The other two commissioners have to come from the Party not in power. What President Trump has done, partially at the request of some of his backers, is to appoint Republican commissioners and try to have all of the Democratic commissioners removed. Since the U.S. Senate must vote for his nominees and since the FCC needs at least three commissioners to make a quorum, Mr. Trump has decided for the present not to try to remove Anna Gomez, the lone Democratic commissioner on the FCC from her position; such a removal at this time would leave the FCC without a quorum and unable to conduct any business. Trump and his supporters desperately want the FCC to go after his perceived media enemies.

 

[TheBigA]

When a president appoints them they have a bias.

This president only views bias when it's the other party. But yes it's a political appointee. This is why it's important to have these agencies staffed by non-political professionals. The problem is he's firing all of them.

 

[Don CT]

This president only views bias when it's the other party. But yes it's a political appointee. This is why it's important to have these agencies staffed by non-political professionals. The problem is he's firing all of them.

All across the government.