John and Anne Fredericks, owners of the John Fredericks Media Network, the largest independently owned news-talk-sports radio network in America, have endorsed new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidance clarifying broadcasters’ responsibilities under federal political equal opportunities law.
Last week, the FCC’s Media Bureau released updated guidance clarifying the scope and application of the statutory political equal opportunities requirement under Section 315 of the Communications Act, emphasizing that broadcast stations must not use the public airwaves to advance partisan political interests and must ensure that no legally qualified candidate is unfairly favored over another.
The guidance emphasizes that broadcast television stations airing programming motivated by partisan purposes – including late-night or daytime talk shows – must comply with the equal opportunities rule by providing comparable time and placement to opposing legally qualified candidates.
The FCC reaffirmed that exemptions for “bona fide” news programming are narrow, fact-specific, and apply only where program content, format, and participant selection are based on independent news judgment rather than an intent to advance or harm a candidate’s campaign.
Notably, the FCC underscored that no currently airing late-night or daytime talk show has been found to qualify for a “bona fide” news interview exemption.
“[T]he FCC has not been presented with any evidence that the interview portion of any late-night or daytime television talk show program on air presently would qualify for the bona fide news exemption,” the guidance reads.
John Fredericks, host of The John Fredericks Show, applauded the FCC’s guidance.
“I welcome and fully endorse Chairman Carr’s ruling. Across the John Fredericks Media Network, our hosts interview countless Republican—and some Democrat—candidates during the political broadcast window. We openly invite all opposing major-party candidates to request equal time, and we will enthusiastically honor those requests,” John Fredericks said in a statement.
“This elevates the conversation, increases accountability, and better serves our listeners. Making both sides’ policies and positions available to the public is good for our audience, good for our company, and good for America,” John Fredericks added.
John Fredericks also commented on FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez’s branding of the new guidance as an “ongoing campaign to censor and control speech,” saying, “I find it laughable that a Democrat FCC commissioner is suddenly worried about censorship.”
“Thousands of conservatives were black-balled, shadow-banned, censored, and cancelled by Big Tech Bros during COVID. There was no outrage then,” he added.
Anne Fredericks, CEO of the John Fredericks Media Network, also praised the FCC’s guidance, saying it “encourages open, honest debate between competing candidates.”
“As CEO, I consistently encourage our hosts to invite voices from across the aisle. Our country is deeply divided, and Chairman Carr’s leadership promotes transparency and real dialogue. I applaud his courage and clarity,” she added. “Equal time isn’t censorship—it’s accountability, transparency, and fair play for voters.”
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Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Virginia Star and The Star News Network. Follow Kaitlin on X / Twitter.
Photo “FCC Logo” by jeanbaptisteparis. CC BY-SA 2.0.
Editor’s Note: John Fredericks is the Publisher of The Virginia Star.
