ABC sues FCC over challenge to its broadcast licenses, saying actions present 'existential threat'
- ABC, Disney and eight ABC-owned stations sued the Federal Communications Commission in federal court, asking a judge to halt early renewal proceedings for the stations' broadcast licenses.
- The lawsuit says the FCC's action amounts to retaliation against ABC's speech and presents an "existential threat" to the network.
- FCC Chairman Brendan Carr ordered the early review in April, years before the licenses were due to expire, and the agency cited ABC's diversity and inclusion practices.
- ABC says the dispute follows repeated attacks from the Trump administration and came after Jimmy Kimmel made a joke that angered President Donald Trump.
- The network also said it has no alternative to judicial relief and asked the court to block any FCC action connected to the early renewal applications.
- The filing is part of a broader fight between ABC and the FCC, including a separate dispute over whether "The View" is subject to equal-time rules.
ABC has taken the unusual step of suing the Federal Communications Commission, arguing that the agency's move to review its broadcast licenses early is an unconstitutional attack on its speech. The company, along with its parent Disney and the eight stations whose licenses are affected, asked a federal court to stop the renewal process.
According to the lawsuit, the FCC's order creates an "existential threat" because it gives the government leverage over the network's journalism and programming. ABC says the administration has repeatedly targeted the company over its content and that the pressure escalated into calls to strip ABC of its licenses.
The FCC ordered the early review in April, citing ABC's diversity and inclusion practices. The action followed tensions between the network and President Donald Trump, including criticism over comments made by Jimmy Kimmel. ABC is also fighting the FCC over whether "The View" should be treated as a news program exempt from equal-time requirements.
The dispute fits into a wider pattern of conflict between the Trump administration and major broadcasters. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has said broadcasters have obligations to serve the public interest, while the commission's lone Democrat praised ABC for pushing back against what she described as government intimidation.
ABC起诉FCC，称其对广播牌照的挑战构成“生存威胁”
ABC采取了少见的做法，起诉美国联邦通信委员会，称该机构提前审查其广播牌照的决定侵犯言论自由，违宪。ABC与母公司Disney以及受影响的8家电视台一起，要求联邦法院停止这一续期程序。
根据诉状，FCC的命令构成“生存威胁”，因为它让政府可以对该网络的新闻和节目内容施加压力。ABC表示，政府一直因其内容针对公司施压，这种压力后来升级为要求剥夺ABC牌照的呼声。
FCC在4月下令提前审查，理由包括ABC的多元化与包容政策。此举发生在该网络与特朗普之间紧张关系加剧之后，其中包括Jimmy Kimmel相关言论引发特朗普不满。ABC还在就《The View》是否属于可豁免平等时间规则的新闻节目与FCC争执。
这场纠纷也反映出特朗普政府与主要广播机构之间更广泛的冲突。FCC主席Brendan Carr表示，广播机构有服务公众利益的责任；而FCC中的唯一民主党委员则欢迎ABC的反击，称这是对政府施压的回应该有的姿态。