• Jessica Rosenworcel rejects four petitions against major TV networks to uphold First Amendment rights.
• Complaints included allegations of bias against networks like CBS and ABC regarding political coverage.
• The FCC’s decision highlights the importance of freedom of the press amidst increasing political interference.
• Rosenworcel warns against using FCC authority to censor media or act as the "President’s speech police."

Outgoing FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel has taken a firm stand for the First Amendment by dismissing four high-profile complaints that sought to curtail freedom of the press. In her announcement made on Thursday, just days before her departure from office, Rosenworcel highlighted the potential dangers of allowing such complaints to influence the regulatory authority of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). "These complaints fundamentally seek to weaponize the licensing authority of the FCC in a manner that contradicts the core principles of the First Amendment," she stated, emphasizing that doing so would set a "dangerous precedent" for government interference in media.

The complaints which were dismissed came from various political factions, including accusations against CBS News concerning the editing of a "60 Minutes" interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, as well as criticisms aimed at NBC and ABC for alleged biases in their coverage during the presidential election. According to Rosenworcel, while each case had unique facts and legal circumstances, they were all attempts to penalize broadcasters for content that displeased certain political interests.

Rosenworcel asserted that the role of the FCC is not to act as "journalism's censor-in-chief" or to suppress viewpoints with which the government disagrees. "We draw a bright line at a moment when clarity about government interference with the free press is needed more than ever," she added, reinforcing the necessity for a free press untainted by political motivations.

Several advocacy groups for press freedom applauded this decision, with Bruce D Brown from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press stating, "The FCC’s authority to police news content is rightfully narrow, precisely because the government should not be the arbiter of truth" ([The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/law/2025/jan/16/fcc-rejects-tv-petition-jessica-rosenworcel)). The move was welcomed as a critical affirmation of freedom of the press, amid a political climate often characterized by hostility towards certain media outlets.

In her remarks, Rosenworcel referenced historical moments where government leaders attempted to undermine the integrity of the press, reiterating that the FCC has a responsibility to uphold constitutional protections. She underscored that the actions taken represent a commitment to safeguarding press freedoms, as well as a directive for future FCC leadership to resist pressures from political entities ([The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/5089429-fcc-chief-jessica-rosenworcel-first-amendment/)).