House Communications Aims for Oct. 25 FCC Oversight Hearing; Dems Target Trump's Broadcaster Threats
The House Communications Subcommittee all but formally announced Friday it's planning an Oct. 25 FCC oversight hearing, publicly releasing invitations to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and the other four commissioners. The subcommittee sought confirmation from commissioners by Friday. The hearing…
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is to begin at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn. House Communications sent out the invitations amid calls from top House Commerce Committee Democrats for a hearing at which they could pressure the FCC commissioners to “disavow” President Donald Trump's recent tweets and comments in which he threatened to challenge NBC licenses over the network's reporting on his administration's activities. But a House Commerce GOP aide told us planning for the FCC oversight hearing predated the Democrats' request by “several weeks.” Trump's comments were seen as a threat to the freedom of the news media but unlikely to lead to any action (see 1710110075). Trump doubled down Wednesday, tweeting that TV network news coverage “has become so partisan, distorted and fake that licenses must be challenged and, if appropriate, revoked. Not fair to public!” Trump's comments “alone may already be chilling free-speech across the country,” said Commerce ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., Thursday: “That is why we and others have called on” Pai to disavow Trump's comments and to pledge not to follow through on threats to broadcasters' licenses. “Despite our calls, [Pai] has refused to say if he agrees” with Trump, the Democratic lawmakers said. “We therefore ask for a hearing as soon as possible with all five FCC Commissioners so that they can publicly and under oath commit that they will not threaten broadcasters or their licenses because of the content of their reporting. Every day that goes by without comment from the FCC Chairman is a continued threat to the First Amendment.” Trump's additional comments on challenging broadcasters' licenses drew criticism from other lawmakers, including Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb. “Words spoken” by the president “matter,” Sasse said: “Are you tonight recanting of the oath you took” at the Jan. 20 inauguration “to preserve, protect, and defend the First Amendment?” The FCC didn't comment.