Part 6/10:
A key question posed relates to the FCC's stance on free speech and whether regulatory efforts threaten the principle of open debate. FCC Chair Carr reaffirmed that the agency does not have a mandate to police speech in the way that some politicians or advocacy groups might suggest.
He clarified that, "the FCC does not have a mandate to police speech in the name of the public interest." Instead, broadcast licensing entails certain standards aimed at protecting the integrity of public airwaves, especially during exceptional moments like the COVID-19 pandemic when censorship on the internet surged.