Bipartisan Group of Former FCC Leaders Seeks Repeal of 'News Distortion' Policy

Overview

• Seven former commissioners, including ex-chairs Tom Wheeler, Mark Fowler and Alfred Sikes, petitioned the FCC to rescind the 1949-era policy with support from Protect Democracy and TechFreedom.
• The policy allows sanctions for deliberately distorted news on licensed broadcast TV and radio, remains uncodified, and does not cover cable, print or online outlets.
• Petitioners point to Chair Brendan Carr’s 2025 invocations involving a CBS 60 Minutes investigation and public warnings tied to Jimmy Kimmel as evidence of coercive use.
• An FCC spokesperson did not immediately comment on the petition, and advisors say inaction by the agency could strengthen grounds for a legal challenge.
• The filing cites Supreme Court reasoning in Moody v. NetChoice to argue the government has no role in "un-biasing" media, while noting the separate broadcast hoax rule would remain unaffected.