WASHINGTON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - The Federal

Communications Commission on Wednesday reinstated complaints

about how ABC News moderated the pre-election TV debate between

U.S. President Joe Biden and Republican rival Donald Trump, and

appearances of Vice President Kamala Harris on CBS' "60 Minutes"

and NBC's "Saturday Night Live."

Last week, then-FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said the

commission was rejecting complaints that "seek to weaponize the

licensing authority of the FCC in a way that is fundamentally at

odds with the First Amendment." The FCC said on Wednesday in a

series of orders the complaints were dismissed "prematurely

based on an insufficient investigatory record."

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

licenses to individual broadcast stations, not networks. The

complaints name specific stations of the three broadcasters.

NBC, Walt Disney ( DIS )-owned ABC and Paramount's CBS

did not immediately comment.

Brendan Carr, who was designated by Republican President

Trump as FCC chair on Monday, declined to comment but he told

Fox News on Wednesday one key focus would be "taking a look at

media and making sure they live up to their public interest

obligation."

Carr previously criticized Comcast ( CMCSA )-owned NBC for

letting Harris appear on Saturday Night Live just before the

election. Rosenworcel noted NBC made available equivalent time

and audience for Trump during two sports events.

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, said in response

"we cannot allow our licensing authority to be weaponized to

curtail freedom of the press. The First Amendment is a pillar of

American democracy, and our country needs a press free from

interference from regulators like me."

Rosenworcel also last week said the agency had rejected a

petition not to renew the license of a Philadelphia Fox TV

station. The FCC did not reinstate that complaint.

In September, Trump urged the FCC to cancel licenses for ABC

over the network's moderating of the Sept. 10 presidential

debate.

In October, Trump filed a lawsuit against CBS over the "60

Minutes" interview with Harris that he called "misleading," and

asked the commission to compel the broadcaster to release a

transcript.