On April 6, FCC Media Bureau Chief Michelle Cary and General Counsel Thomas Johnson issued a commendable letter defending First Amendment freedom of speech and rejecting an emergency petition by the unsuitably-named advocacy group Free Press that sought a federal investigation of broadcasters and to effectively censor presidential news conferences and public commentary related to COVID-19. The letter, which is worth reading in full, is a gratifying instance of public officials defending liberty and sensibly discharging their responsibilities rather than twisting them for dangerous ends and under the cover of public emergency. It would be wrong for the FCC to use its public interest and other powers to selectively imposes its own views on broadcasters and it would be equally wrong for the agency to do the same through Internet or other communications platforms. Friday, April 10, 2020
FCC Officials Defend Free Speech from (un)Free Press Petition
On April 6, FCC Media Bureau Chief Michelle Cary and General Counsel Thomas Johnson issued a commendable letter defending First Amendment freedom of speech and rejecting an emergency petition by the unsuitably-named advocacy group Free Press that sought a federal investigation of broadcasters and to effectively censor presidential news conferences and public commentary related to COVID-19. The letter, which is worth reading in full, is a gratifying instance of public officials defending liberty and sensibly discharging their responsibilities rather than twisting them for dangerous ends and under the cover of public emergency. It would be wrong for the FCC to use its public interest and other powers to selectively imposes its own views on broadcasters and it would be equally wrong for the agency to do the same through Internet or other communications platforms. 
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