<
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/12/conservative-attacks-on-npr-and-pbs-continue-with-call-to-take-fcc-licenses/>
"A conservative group yesterday urged the Federal Communications Commission to
take licenses away from
NPR and
PBS stations and let other entities use the
spectrum. The request came from the Center for American Rights (CAR), a
nonprofit law firm that has played a prominent role in the news-distortion
investigations spearheaded by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.
“In the wake of the wind-down of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and
the end of federal funding for
NPR and
PBS, the Center respectfully
suggests that the Commission open an inquiry that looks at the future of
‘public’ broadcasting in that new environment,” a Center for American Rights
filing said.
The CPB is set to shut down after Congress approved President Trump’s request
to rescind its funding. The Center for American Rights said the CPB shutdown
should be used as an opportunity to reassign spectrum used by
NPR and
PBS
stations to other entities.
“If
PBS and
NPR cannot prove a viable long-term business model as national
networks—and if their individual affiliates cannot show long-term business
models in each market—then this Commission needs to consider whether those
channels (i.e., that spectrum) will become available in the near future for
other potential licensees or uses,” the group said.
Suggesting that
PBS and
NPR stations aren’t serving the public interest,
the CAR filing said the FCC “should ask whether
PBS (and
NPR) stations are
fulfilling their public-interest obligations as licensees when the public’s
elected representatives have just chosen to cut off public funding because of
their failure to serve the public well.”"
Via Kenny Chaffin.
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
