Gomez Pushes Back on FCC License Threats

RADIO ONLINE | Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | 3:11pm CT

Anna M. Gomez

FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez is pushing back against recent threats from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to revoke broadcast licenses over news coverage of the war with Iran, calling the warnings legally unfounded and potentially harmful to press freedom.

In a statement released March 16, Gomez said the FCC lacks the authority to control national news coverage and emphasized that the agency licenses local broadcast stations-not networks. She also noted that no broadcast license renewals are scheduled until 2028 and that early renewal efforts are rare and difficult to pursue.

Gomez argued that any attempt to revoke licenses based on news content would likely fail in court, citing First Amendment concerns and what she described as a pattern of actions that exceed constitutional limits.

While dismissing the legal viability of such threats, Gomez expressed concern about their broader impact, warning of a potential "chilling effect" on journalists and broadcasters. She said recent FCC actions reflect a wider effort to discredit independent media and could undermine public trust in both the press and the agency itself.

Gomez also pointed to a series of politically motivated investigations targeting media organizations that have not resulted in enforcement actions, describing them as part of a pattern of regulatory pressure aimed at influencing coverage.

She urged broadcasters, journalists and the public to recognize the threats as lacking legal standing and to defend First Amendment protections against government overreach.