This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Brendan Carr, recently promoted by President Donald Trump from a seat on the Federal Communications Commission to be its chair, has notified the tax-funded National Public Radio and Public Broadcasting System their acceptance of paid advertisements is going to be reviewed.
Carr previously was the agency's general counsel, and was on the commission from 2017. He's been a critic of TikTok, on national security grounds, opposes content "moderation" or censorship on digital platforms and has urged the dismantling of the "censorship cartel" that appeared under Joe Biden's administration.
Now a report from RedState says he has put PBS and NPR "on notice that he has ordered an investigation into those outlets for violating federal law by airing paid advertisements."
NPR and PBS both, in fact, have turned to the extreme left politically in America, and have been criticized for failing to present neutral reporting. Instead they support far-left ideologies and attack conservative thought.
Carr, in fact, openly wondered about their existence.
"For my own part, I do not see a reason why Congress should continue sending taxpayer dollars to NPR and PBS given the changes in the media marketplace since the passage of the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967," he said.
The dispute over advertisements is because as tax-funded organizations they are not allowed to accept pay for ordinary ads.
They are allowed to provide acknowledgement for financial support.
"I am concerned that NPR and PBS broadcasts could be violating federal law by airing commercials. In particular, it is possible that NPR and PBS member stations are broadcasting underwriting announcements that cross the line into prohibited commercial advertisements," he said in a letter.
RedState explained, "NPR and PBS have for decades aired sponsorships under rules set forth by the government. While public broadcasters are restricted by law from accepting traditional commercials, the F.C.C. has become more permissive over the years about what public stations are allowed to air. The F.C.C.'s evolving stance on the issue has gradually allowed public radio stations to become less dependent on government funding."
Eric Nuzum, of production company Magnificent Noise, said in a commercial, the sponsor owns the time and can say what it wants. In an underwriting acknowledgement, "the station provides an acknowledgment of who's providing the funding, along with basic information about the underwriter."
Carr said the problem is that broadcasters "cross the line into advertisement when they 'promote the contributor's products, services, or businesses.'" Further, they are not allowed to include "inducements" to buy.
