Around the Water Cooler

100 days of Brendan Carr’s FCC, court headlines, World Press Freedom Day, and more

First 100 days

The Federal Communications Commission released its statement on Carr’s first 100 days, triggering reports like these with BroadbandBreakfast and InsideRadio.

But for our money, the in-depth look by Lawfare, a project of the Brookings Institute think tank, has the best analysis so far, particularly of Carr’s efforts to expand his limited executive authority in areas where he can avoid judicial review of his actions and decisions.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, merger talks began between the FCC and Paramount/CBS and Skydance – as, according to Reuters, CBS enters mediation with the president, who sued CBS for news distortion, and Carr acknowledges that time is running out on the agency’s 180-day review period for the merger.

Attacks on public media continue

GOP-dominated Indiana legislature makes an 11^th hour move to cut about $7.4 million from the state budget that supports eight PBS and nine NPR stations in the Hoosier state. Yahoo News picked up the IndyStar story.

State of Hawaii is allowing cable operators to grab back franchise fees, threatening community radio and TV stations. Pacifica Maui has the story.

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting sued the president after he tried to fire some of its board members. NPR has the story. DocumentCloud has the complaint.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the CPB moves ahead with its emergency alert system improvements.

Other court headlines

Public Knowledge filed an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit defending against the White House attack on the independence of the FCC and similar agencies.

Inside Radio reports on more support for changing radio ownership rules as the Eighth Circuit considers a challenge to a previous FCC decision on those rules.

Trusty’s FCC nomination moves ahead to the full Senate

BroadbandBreakfast has the story.

A money-saving tip

Over at the Broadcast Law Blog, the law group reminds everyone that the FCC is raising its administrative fees on May 17, just in case you want to get that paperwork in early and save a bit.

Saturday, May 3, is World Press Freedom Day.

3 May acts as a reminder to governments of the need to respect their commitment to press freedom and is also a day of reflection among media professionals about issues of press freedom and professional ethics. Just as importantly, World Press Freedom Day is a day of support for media which are targets for the restraint, or abolition, of press freedom. It is also a day of remembrance for those journalists who lost their lives in the pursuit of a story. https://www.unesco.org/en/days/press-freedom