Overview

• FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has threatened to block mergers and acquisitions for companies with DEI policies deemed 'invidious,' citing public interest concerns.
• The FCC is investigating Comcast, NBCUniversal, and Verizon over their DEI practices, alongside probes into NPR and PBS for alleged rule violations.
• Carr reinstated 'news distortion' complaints against broadcasters including WPVI-TV, WCBS-TV, and WNBC-TV, with public input sought on specific cases.
• High-profile mergers, such as the $8 billion Paramount-Skydance deal and Verizon's acquisition of Frontier Communications, are under extended FCC review.
• The Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations has demanded records from the FCC by March 26, amid criticism of political bias and potential First Amendment violations.