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.

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.

Chair Jessica Rosenworcel is dismissing four high profile petitions before the agency before she vacates the position, saying such action is necessary to

In one of her final acts as head of the FCC, chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel ordered the agency to reject four complaints and petitions against local TV stations — which she says represent politically motivated efforts “to curtail freedom of the press and undermine the First Amendment.

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.