FCC commissioner: Media licenses won’t be revoked over Trump

An FCC commissioner said media licenses won’t be revoked just because President Trump is dissatisfied with the coverage.

During an interview on CNN, Jessica Rosenworcel said the FCC must abide by the First Amendment.

“I think it’s essential that the FCC and all that it does is careful to abide by the First Amendment when it engages in any kind of policies involving broadcast licensees,” she said.

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She was asked whether it worries her that Trump is bringing up the potential to challenge or revoke broadcast licenses.

“I think it’s important to realize that the Supreme Court characterizes our First Amendment as a profound national commitment to having robust, uninhibited and wide open debate and you know, that debate can sometimes be hard hitting for public officials,” she said.

“But it is absolutely essential that we support the first amendment and everything that the FCC does.”

Other commissioners should speak out, she said, adding history won’t be kind to silence.

“I think it’s important for all the commissioners to make clear that they support the First Amendment,” she said.

“And that the agency will not revoke a broadcast license simply because the president is dissatisfied with the licensees coverage.”

The comments come after Trump last week called it “disgusting” that the press can write whatever it wants and said licenses need to be challenged.

“Network news has become so partisan, distorted and fake that licenses must be challenged and, if appropriate, revoked,” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Not fair to public!”

Trump often rails on the media, and dubs certain articles or networks as “fake news.”