The Federal Communications Commission is investigating KCBS All News radio for telling listeners where Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents would be conducting deportation raids in the Bay Area.
Traditionally, the FCC has had a hands-off attitude toward news coverage by broadcasters out of concern about infringing on their First Amendment rights.
But with a new president, the composition of the FCC now consists of three Republicans and two Democrats. The Republican majority is investigating newsroom operations of broadcasters.
The FCC’s new chairman, Brendan Carr, confirmed the KCBS investigation during an interview on Fox News. Carr said the San Francisco radio station gave its listeners live locations and vehicle descriptions of immigration agents on Jan. 26.
ICE has complained that the KCBS broadcasts put their agents at risk. Criminals might use the information to ambush the agents.
KCBS’ parent company, Audacy, has declined to comment.
The FCC determines KCBS was in violation, it has a range of actions it could take, from fining the station to taking away its licenses.
A First Amendment advocate said the FCC investigation will have a chilling effect on news organizations that report on the Trump administration’s deportation plans.
“Law enforcement operations, immigration or otherwise, are matters of public interest,” David Loy, legal director for the First Amendment Coalition, told KQED in an interview. “People generally have the right to report this on social media and in print and so on. So it’s very troubling because it’s possible the FCC is potentially being weaponized to crack down on reporting that the administration simply just doesn’t like.”
The FCC is also investigating “60 Minutes” on allegations that it selectively edited an interview with Kamala Harris before the election. “60 Minutes” appears on CBS-TV, which no longer owns radio stations. The network spun off KCBS and its other radio stations to Audacy in 2017.
It is irresponsible to put agents in jeopardy by broadcasting locations and descriptions of agents and vehicles.