The suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's show has triggered concerns about the US communications regulator's power over TV networks.

Republican Senator Rand Paul said on Sunday that threats by Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr against Disney and local broadcasters for airing "Jimmy Kimmel Live" were "absolutely inappropriate.

President Trump keeps threatening the licenses of local TV stations, but his government has limited power to follow through on those threats.

A threat to revoke broadcast licenses would almost certainly be seen in a court of law as a government action tantamount to coercion.

Suggestions by President Donald Trump and Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr that broadcaster licenses could be revoked over disfavored views expressed on their airwaves could run afoul of a unanimous Supreme Court decision just last year addressing alleged pressure by government officials to silence speech.

Cruz said FCC chair Brendan Carr sounded like a mafia boss when he threatened ABC over Jimmy Kimmel's comments on Charlie Kirk.

Sen. Ted Cruz called it "unbelievably dangerous" for FCC Chairman Brendon Carr to pressure ABC to pull Jimmy Kimmel's show off the airwaves.

Howard Stern is canceling his Disney+ subscription after 'outrageous' Jimmy Kimmel suspension. The radio host says media companies need to say 'f--- you' to government pressure: 'Someone's gotta step up.