ABC asks judge to block FCC early license review
Summary
Disney’s ABC asked a federal judge to stop the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from reviewing its broadcast licenses earlier than scheduled. ABC says the FCC’s action is a form of retaliation tied to content that upset President Donald Trump and the FCC Chair, while the FCC argues it started the review because ABC did not respond properly to a diversity investigation.Key Facts
- The FCC ordered ABC and its parent company to renew eight broadcast licenses early, originally set between 2028 and 2031.
- ABC claims this review is retaliation for content that displeased President Donald Trump and FCC Chair Brendan Carr.
- ABC's attorney compared the FCC’s action to a “guillotine,” saying it threatens the network’s First Amendment rights to free speech.
- President Trump previously called for ABC and NBC licenses to be revoked for not airing his speech.
- The Justice Department says the FCC’s early review is due to ABC’s failure to respond to an investigation into diversity and inclusion practices.
- The legal fight focuses on whether ABC can challenge the FCC’s decision in district court or must appeal within the FCC and then the appellate court.
- ABC says the retaliation falls outside normal regulatory procedures, so they need immediate court relief.
- ABC has already changed some political coverage and programming decisions due to the FCC action.
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