FCC Can't Strip Licenses For Unfair Coverage, Chair Says

President-elect Donald Trump said during the election campaign that ABC News and CBS News should lose their broadcast licenses with the Federal Communications Commission because of their biased coverage against him.

But outgoing FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said Monday it is not the FCC's job to punish networks that are unfair to him.

"The FCC has no business threatening to take away broadcast licenses because the president does not like the content or coverage on a network," Rosenworcel said on the most recent Politico Tech podcast, according to The Hill. "And that same First Amendment duty applies to what is out there online."

The FCC does not license broadcast networks but issues them to individual broadcast stations that are renewed for eight-year periods. Trump claimed his Sept. 10 debate against Vice President Kamala Harris was "rigged" because moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis fact-checked several of his responses but didn't do the same with Harris.

He also criticized CBS News for editing Harris' "epic word salad" answer — as the Trump campaign called it — about Israel in her interview that aired Oct. 7, the one-year anniversary of Iranian-backed Hamas' terrorist attack in southern Israel. The night before, "60 Minutes" teased a clip with Harris talking at length about the U.S.'s lack of influence over Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In both cases, he said the networks should lose their broadcasting licenses.

"We make decisions about communications based on the record, based on the facts, and based on the law," Rosenworcel said. "And not based on the whims coming out of the White House or the grievances of the president."

Rosenworcel also spoke out against Trump's comments when the "60 Minutes" interview with Harris aired.

"As I've said before, the First Amendment is a cornerstone of our democracy," she told The Hill. "The FCC does not and will not revoke licenses for broadcast stations simply because a political candidate disagrees with or dislikes content or coverage."

• FCC Chair Rips Trump For 'Threats Against Free Speech'
• Trump Demands CBS Release Harris' 'Word Salad' Transcript