FCC chair launches investigation into NPR, PBS

The chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is launching an investigation into NPR and PBS over their alleged "airing of commercials."

"I am concerned that NPR and PBS broadcasts could be violating federal law by airing
commercials," FCC Chair Brendan Carr wrote to the news outlets in a letter first obtained by The New York Times. "In particular, it is possible that NPR and PBS member stations are broadcasting underwriting announcements that cross the line into prohibited commercial advertisements."

In a statement to The Hill on Thursday, NPR President and CEO Katherine Maher said the outlet's programming and underwriting messaging "complies with federal regulations, including the FCC guidelines on underwriting messages for noncommercial educational broadcasters, and Member stations are expected to be in compliance as well."

"We are confident any review of our programming and underwriting practices will confirm NPR’s adherence to these rules," Maher said. "We have worked for decades with the FCC in support of noncommercial educational broadcasters who provide essential information, educational programming, and emergency alerts to local communities across the United States."

A representative for PBS told The Hill the broadcaster “is proud of the noncommercial educational programming we provide to all Americans through our member stations.”

“We work diligently to comply with the FCC’s underwriting regulations and welcome the opportunity to demonstrate that to the Commission,” a spokesperson for the outlet said.

Carr's letter comes as President Trump and other conservatives have railed against public broadcasters in recent years, alleging bias and suggesting taxpayer dollars should not go to fund the outlets.

"This appears to be yet another Administration effort to weaponize the power of the FCC," agency Commissioner Anna M. Gomez said in a post on the social platform X linking to the Times' report. "The FCC has no business intimidating and silencing broadcast media."

Most of NPR’s funding comes from private sponsorships and personal contributions from audience members, though it does receive a smaller portion of its money from the federal government and member stations.

Carr last week announced he would reopen a number of complaints against major broadcast outlets that were dismissed by former President Biden's administration and has vowed to combat what he calls "censorship" in the mainstream media.

Updated at 3:39 p.m. EST

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