WASHINGTON, March 16 (Reuters) - The Federal

Communications Commission could accelerate reviews of licenses

held by broadcast television stations, agency Chair Brendan Carr

told Reuters, as he intensifies efforts to investigate news

media companies and faces pressure from President Donald Trump.

"You can do early renewals," said Carr, who spoke with

Reuters last week before ramping up threats against broadcasters

on Saturday, noting the FCC has a number of investigations into

various broadcasters, including NBC, ABC, PBS and NPR.

Asked if he could seek to revoke any broadcast licenses as a

result of pending investigations, he said it was possible.

"All of that stuff is on the table," Carr said, adding he

thought it would be a "good thing long-term to make sure people

understand that there are, in fact, things you can do to lose

your license and really help broadcasters reorient their

operations to the public interest."

The FCC, an independent federal agency, issues eight-year

licenses to individual broadcast stations.

According to the FCC website, the next broadcast licenses

come up for renewal in October 2028, but Carr said he could

accelerate the reviews.

"The licenses could come up earlier than 2028," he said.

"Maybe we would, maybe we wouldn't. They could."

Trump has repeatedly pressured the FCC to revoke the

licenses of NBC and ABC stations. Trump said on social media on

Sunday he was "thrilled" that Carr is looking at licenses held

by some media companies.