EDWARD J . MARKEY 
MASSACHUSETIS 
COMMITTEES: tinitcd ~tatrs ~cnatc ENVIRONMlNT AND PUBLIC WORKS 
FOREIGN RELATIONS 
RANKING MEMBER: 
SUBCOMMITTEE ON EAST ASIA, THE PACIFIC, 
ANO INTERNATIONAL CV6ERSECURITV Poucv 
COMMCRCE, SCIENCE, ANO TRANSPORTATION 
RANKING M EMBER: 
SuACOMMITTEc oN 
SPA.CE., SCtfNCE, ANO COMPETITIVENESS 
SMALL BUSINESS ANO ENTREPRENEURSHIP 
CHAIRMAN: 
U.S. SENATE CuMArt CHANGE TASK foRCE 
The Honorable Ajit Pai 
Chairman 
Federal Communications Commission 
445 12th Street SW 
Washington, DC 20554 
Dear Chairman Pai, 
October 11, 2017 
SUITE SD-255 
DIRKSEN BUILDING 
WASHINGTON, DC 20510-2107 
202-224-2742 
975 JFK FEDERAL BUILDING 
15 New SuoeuAv STREET 
BOSTO~. MA 02203 
617-565-8519 
222 MILLIKFN BOULEVARD, SUllE 312 
FALL RIVER, MA 02721 
508-677 0523 
1550 MAIN STREET. 4TH FLOOR 
SPlllNGFlELO, MA 01103 
413-785-4610 
I write to urge you to maintain the Federal Communication Commission ' s (FCC) charter as an 
independent agency and withstand any urges from President Trump to harm the news media and 
infringe upon the First Amendment. 
This morning, President Trump tweeted ''[w]ith all of the Fake News coming out of NBC and the 
Networks, at what point is it appropriate to challenge their License? Bad for country!" 
In response to President Trump's question, it is inappropriate for the President to propose 
challenging broadcasters· licenses because he disagrees with their coverage. The First 
Amendment is the cornerstone of our democracy, and the news media plays an instrumental role 
in educating the American public and holding elected officials accountable. Any insinuation that 
elected officials could use the levers of government to control or sensor the news media would 
represent a startling degradation of the freedom of press. 
I ask for your commitment to resist the President's request and call on you to publically refuse to 
challenge the license of any broadcaster because the President dislikes its coverage. Please 
provide information about any correspondence or communications from the White House or 
other members of the Trump administration that have encouraged you to take action against a 
broadcaster. 
I thank you for your attention to this important matter, and respectfully request that you respond 
to my inquiry no later than November 1, 201 7. 
Sincerely, 
~~-
Edward J. Markey 
United States Senator 
823