The outgoing Democratic chair of the Federal Communications Commission is taking bold action on the way out the door, rejecting what she described as four efforts to weaponize the government’s TV licensing authority for political purposes.

Departing FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel’s last gesture was a critical stand for the First Amendment. Commissioners Anna Gomez and Geoffrey Starks must now pick up the mantle. The post Post-Rosenworcel,

I have directed the FCC to take a stand on behalf of the First Amendment," she said. "We draw a bright line at a moment when clarity about government interference with the free press is needed more than ever.

In one of her final announcements, Jessica Rosenworcel said that Trump’s attacks on the free press are a new extension of those by past presidents.

With less than a week left before her duties as chairwoman of the FCC come to an end, Jessica Rosenworcel is bidding farewell to her colleagues.

Today was the final Open Meeting as Chairwoman of the FCC for Jessica Rosenworcel, who took the opportunity to share at length what her experience brought to her, and to America.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday rejected complaints about how ABC News moderated the pre-election TV debate between U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican rival Donald Trump, and appearances of Vice President Kamala Harris on CBS' "60 Minutes" and NBC's "Saturday Night Live."

Outgoing FCC chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has rejected petitions to rebuke four local TV stations. She says they were efforts to punish broadcast networks' coverage of presidential politics.

The agency also rejected a complaint against 6ABC over 2024 election coverage that allegedly favored Kamala Harris.

As the US faces “the worst telecommunications hack in our nation’s history,” by China’s Salt Typhoon hackers, the outgoing FCC chair is determined to bolster network security if it’s the last thing she does.

Departing chairperson Jessica Rosenworcel said her order was intended to direct the agency to “take a stand on behalf of the First Amendment.”

Citing various past presidents who clashed with the press, Rosenworcel noted that “More recently this threat to the First Amendment has taken on new forms, as the incoming President has called on the Federal Communications Commission to revoke licenses for broadcast television stations because he disagrees with their content and coverage.