ABC sues FCC over challenge to its broadcast licenses, saying actions present 'existential threat'
- ABC and its parent company Disney have filed a lawsuit against the FCC, claiming that the agency's demand for early review of its broadcast licenses poses an 'existential threat' to the network.
- The FCC ordered the early review of eight ABC-owned licenses, citing the network's diversity and inclusion practices.
- The lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration has attacked ABC's speech and demanded the network be stripped of its broadcast licenses due to its criticisms of the administration.
- ABC argues that the early license review is part of a broader campaign against free speech that could have significant implications for media companies across the country.
- The sole Democrat on the FCC, Anna Gomez, praised ABC for challenging the FCC's actions, calling it a response to government intimidation.
ABC has taken legal action against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), arguing that the agency's demand for an early review of its broadcast licenses represents an 'existential threat' to the network. The lawsuit, filed on First Amendment grounds, seeks to halt the early renewal proceedings for the eight licenses owned by ABC and its parent company, Disney.
The FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, initiated the early review in April, citing the network's diversity and inclusion practices. This move follows a controversial joke made by ABC's late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who has been critical of President Trump, prompting the president to call for Kimmel's firing.
In the lawsuit, ABC contends that the administration's actions amount to retaliation for its speech and that the threat to its licenses is unprecedented. The network claims that it has no alternative means to address these threats other than to seek judicial relief.
The lawsuit also highlights broader concerns regarding free speech in the media, suggesting that if the administration succeeds, it would send a clear message to all media companies about the consequences of reporting unfavorable stories. The sole Democrat on the FCC has expressed support for ABC's legal challenge, criticizing the agency's actions as a form of censorship.
ABC起诉FCC，称其对广播许可证的挑战构成“生存威胁”
ABC已对联邦通信委员会（FCC）采取法律行动，认为该机构要求提前审查其广播许可证构成对网络的“生存威胁”。该诉讼以第一修正案为依据，旨在停止对ABC及其母公司迪士尼拥有的八个许可证的提前续期程序。
FCC在主席布伦丹·卡尔的领导下，于四月启动了提前审查，理由是该网络的多样性和包容性做法。这一举动是在ABC的深夜主持人吉米·基梅尔发表争议性笑话之后进行的，基梅尔一直批评特朗普总统，导致总统呼吁解雇基梅尔。
在诉讼中，ABC主张，政府的行为构成了对其言论的报复，威胁其许可证的行为是前所未有的。该网络声称，除了寻求司法救济外，没有其他手段可以解决这些威胁。
诉讼还强调了对媒体自由言论的更广泛担忧，暗示如果政府成功，将向所有媒体公司发出明确的信息，警告其报道不利故事的后果。FCC唯一的民主党成员对ABC的法律挑战表示支持，批评该机构的行为是一种审查。