WBEZ, 12 other public media stations under investigation by FCC

At a time when its parent company is battling financial hardship, WBEZ is among more than a dozen public media stations being investigated by the Federal Communications Commission for its underwriting practices, an inquiry which may put federal money the station relies on into jeopardy. On Jan. 29, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr sent letters to National Public Radio president and CEO Katherine Maher and PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger advising them that 13 of its member stations, including WBEZ, were under investigation about on-air sponsorships, commonly referred to as “underwriting” by public media stations. WBEZ received a letter on Feb. 28 from the FCC’s enforcement bureau requesting detailed information about underwriting announcements that air on the station, giving it 30 days to respond. The station has until the end of March to provide the appropriate details to the FCC.