The Federal Communications Commission is investigating KCBS All News radio for telling listeners where Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents would be conducting deportation raids in the Bay Area.
Traditionally, the FCC has had a hands-off attitude toward news coverage by broadcasters out of concern about infringing on their First Amendment rights.
But with a new president, the composition of the FCC now consists of three Republicans and two Democrats. The Republican majority is investigating newsroom operations of broadcasters.
The FCC’s new chairman, Brendan Carr, confirmed the KCBS investigation during an interview on Fox News. Carr said the San Francisco radio station gave its listeners live locations and vehicle descriptions of immigration agents on Jan. 26.
ICE has complained that the KCBS broadcasts put their agents at risk. Criminals might use the information to ambush the agents.
KCBS’ parent company, Audacy, has declined to comment.
The FCC determines KCBS was in violation, it has a range of actions it could take, from fining the station to taking away its licenses.
A First Amendment advocate said the FCC investigation will have a chilling effect on news organizations that report on the Trump administration’s deportation plans.
“Law enforcement operations, immigration or otherwise, are matters of public interest,” David Loy, legal director for the First Amendment Coalition, told KQED in an interview. “People generally have the right to report this on social media and in print and so on. So it’s very troubling because it’s possible the FCC is potentially being weaponized to crack down on reporting that the administration simply just doesn’t like.”
The FCC is also investigating “60 Minutes” on allegations that it selectively edited an interview with Kamala Harris before the election. “60 Minutes” appears on CBS-TV, which no longer owns radio stations. The network spun off KCBS and its other radio stations to Audacy in 2017.
It is irresponsible to put agents in jeopardy by broadcasting locations and descriptions of agents and vehicles.
This is amazing. I listen to KCBS for traffic every ten minutes and I have to say, KCBS has been an anti-American, anti- conservative, absolute trash radio station run by George Soros globalists. It seems the biggest item on their “news” agenda is race baiting through “news” stories (e.g. a white cop yelled at an unruly black suspect, sparking outrage and inquiries into how our police interact with marginalized people) while dividing Americans of all nationalities. As a Trump voter in the Bay Area, this is absolutely beautiful news to hear. I’ll be reaching out to President Trumps office to be inform him of the other shenanigans and atrocities broadcast from KCBS. I want to see that station go down. Can’t spell KCBS without BS after all.
This is an assault on the free press. Sad that you fail to recognize that. George Soros? Really?
This is an assault on the free press. Sad that you fail to recognize that. I guess you’re okay with Newsmax and Fox News creating their own propaganda. And George Soros? Really?
Always fun to see the racist come out in comment sections.