Concern Regarding FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's Actions and Threats to Free Speech

As your constituent, I am writing to express my profound concern about the recent actions of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr, who has publicly pressured ABC and its affiliates to cancel the show of host Jimmy Kimmel. This behavior is a direct and dangerous attack on the First Amendment and a fundamental betrayal of the FCC's mission to protect, not suppress, free speech. Chairman Carr's threats of regulatory action, including the possibility of license revocation, are an unconscionable abuse of power. The Communications Act of 1934 explicitly prohibits the FCC from exercising "the power of censorship over the radio communications or signals transmitted by any radio station." The Supreme Court and the FCC's own history have consistently upheld this principle, affirming that the government cannot and should not be a content policeman. Whether or not one agrees with Jimmy Kimmel's comments, they are clearly protected speech. The remarks were made in jest and, even if deemed offensive by some, fall well within the bounds of satire and political commentary that are central to a free and open society. For a government official to use his position to threaten a network into removing content he dislikes sets a chilling and unacceptable precedent. Such a blatant attempt to silence a dissenting voice is the very definition of government interference in the press, and it cannot be allowed to stand. This incident reveals a critical vulnerability in our regulatory framework. While the FCC's role is to ensure a fair and competitive marketplace for communications, it is not—and should never become—an arbiter of political correctness or a tool for punishing opposing viewpoints. Therefore, I call on you to take immediate action. I urge you to demand that Brendan Carr either resign or issue a formal apology for his inexcusable behavior. Anything less would be a dereliction of his duty and a signal that such attacks on free speech are permissible. Furthermore, I implore you and your colleagues to work on a bipartisan basis to draft and pass simple, clear legislation that reaffirms and strengthens the statutory protections against government censorship. This legislation should explicitly define and clarify the FCC's role, ensuring that it cannot, in any way, involve itself in the policing of content. A vote against such a bill would be a vote against the foundational principle of free speech as enshrined in our Constitution. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter. I look forward to your response and to learning what steps you will take to protect our nation's most cherished freedom.