Bill > S867

This bill seeks to protect broadcast licensees from potential Federal Communications Commission (FCC) actions based on their viewpoints by amending the Communications Act of 1934. Specifically, the bill prohibits the FCC from revoking licenses, taking punitive actions, or imposing conditions on broadcast approvals due to the viewpoints expressed by a licensee, their affiliates, or successors. The bill emphasizes the FCC's historical mandate as an independent agency designed to provide communication services without discrimination and preserves the agency's ability to take action against specific serious violations, such as broadcasting content that constitutes criminal fraud, obscenity, or incitement unprotected by the First Amendment. The legislation aims to protect broadcasters from potential political pressure or censorship by ensuring that the FCC cannot use its regulatory powers to suppress or intimidate media outlets based on the content or perspective of their broadcasts. By codifying these protections, the bill seeks to reinforce the FCC's role as a neutral regulatory body and safeguard freedom of expression in broadcast media.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/867/all-info