Conservative organizations have filed petitions with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to deny license renewal requests for eight local television stations owned and operated by ABC. The groups accuse the network of political, racial, and sexual bias, as well as supporting the Chinese Communist Party.
FCC's Early Renewal Process
The petitions come after FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, required ABC to apply for license renewals several years early. Carr stated that the early process stems from an investigation into ABC's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Petitioners are allowed to raise various grievances against the network.
Petitions from Conservative Groups
The Center for American Rights filed a petition arguing that ABC's stations are not operating in the public interest, citing partisan bias in programs like Jimmy Kimmel's show and the 2024 presidential debate moderation. The group wrote: "ABC ignores long-standing Commission precedents and principles protecting the integrity of the news. ABC engages in explicit racial and gender discrimination. ABC cozies up to the Communist Chinese Party and airbrushes over religious and ethnic cleansing."
The Media Research Center filed a petition alleging ABC has "used public spectrum to suppress news coverage of the most critical stories of our day; to engage in electioneering and relentless political bias; to excuse, minimize, and even justify the epidemic of political violence; and to peddle misinformation and defamation."
The Article III Project, led by Trump-aligned activist Mike Davis, focused on ABC parent company Disney's employment practices, claiming violations of federal Equal Employment Opportunity law. America First Legal, co-founded by Stephen Miller, argued that ABC's stations lacked the character qualifications to hold broadcast licenses.
Background and Timeline
The FCC accelerated ABC's license renewal timeline in April after the White House called for Jimmy Kimmel's ouster over a joke about Melania Trump. The FCC is also investigating whether The View violated equal time provisions after an appearance by Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.
The deadline for opposition to petitions is 29 July, with replies due 5 August. The matter may then go to an administrative law judge for a full trial, or FCC commissioners could hold hearings themselves. Carr told the Guardian: "If it's short, great. If it's long, great. But we got to apply the Communications Act and the provisions."
