Carr, meanwhile, says he's just pursuing the "public interest." Federal law authorizes the FCC to ensure licensees serve "the public interest, convenience, and necessity." "And the public interest means you can't be running a narrow partisan circus and still meeting your public interest obligations." Subsequent legislation expanded the government's regulatory power but largely kept the "public interest" standard intact. One would imagine the "public interest" is best served by respecting the First Amendment and defending free speech.