Rep. Buddy Carter Requests FCC Review of Major Networks' Broadcast Decisions

Rep. Buddy Carter, a Republican from Georgia, has requested the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to review the broadcast decisions of ABC, NBC, and CBS regarding President Donald Trump's primetime address on July 16. In a letter sent to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, Carter expressed concerns that the networks may have violated their obligation to serve the public interest by not airing the address live or cutting away from it. He stated that while networks can critique the President's remarks, they should still provide coverage of major presidential addresses. Carter emphasized the importance of allowing the public to hear the information directly from the President and make their own judgments. He also noted that airing the address on streaming services does not adequately serve those without reliable broadband access. The letter follows Trump's address, during which he discussed election vulnerabilities and accused the networks of being part of a plot against him. The White House stated that the documents released during the address included allegations related to voting system vulnerabilities and national security. ABC and NBC streamed the speech on their digital platforms but did not air it live on their main networks, while CBS joined the broadcast late and cut away before the President finished.