Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr said the agency may soon issue guidance to television broadcasters over what he called “fake polls,” particularly if they are intended to suppress voter participation ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Carr said Sunday that broadcasters face federal public-interest obligations because local television stations use FCC-licensed public airwaves, unlike cable networks and online platforms.
“There’s a lot of interest right now in fake polls that are out there,” Carr said. “And so the FCC may put guidance out soon to remind broadcasters about their obligations with respect to not airing fake polls, particularly if they’re done to suppress people heading into the fall.”
Carr’s comments follow criticism from President Donald Trump over media coverage of political polling and his endorsement record in Republican primaries.
Trump recently called for the FCC to take action against NBC News’ Kristen Welker after she said on a local NBC affiliate that Trump had experienced “mixed results” with candidates he endorsed in this year’s primaries.
Trump disputed that characterization and said Welker should be reported to the FCC for “rebuke or punishment.”
NBC News defended Welker.
Carr did not announce a formal investigation of Welker.
Hellbound and Down 