ABC Accuses FCC of Retaliation in 8-Station License Fight as Review Is Forced Years Early
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jul 30
ABC Accuses FCC of Retaliation in 8-Station License Fight as Review Is Forced Years Early
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jul 30
Summary
ABC told the FCC its accelerated review of eight owned TV stations is unconstitutional retaliation for the network’s Trump coverage and editorial decisions, urging regulators to dismiss petitions seeking to block license renewals.
A 109-page filing said the commission unusually forced the stations into renewal years early even though some other ABC-owned licenses run until 2031, arguing the FCC cannot police alleged liberal bias in programming.
Brendan Carr has denied the inquiry targets editorial choices, saying it instead concerns employment practices and statutory compliance; ABC countered that petitioners showed no serious rule violations or pattern of abuse.
Tuesday, a bipartisan group of former FCC commissioners and staffers called the April early-renewal order a grave violation of the Communications Act and the Constitution, while thousands of public comments backed ABC.
Replies to the denial petitions are due by August 5; the FCC could then grant renewals or open hearings that may drag on for years and spill into court.