Disney, ABC Sue FCC Over Threats to Broadcast Licenses

Disney and ABC are taking legal action against the FCC to halt an early review of eight station licenses, contending the Trump administration is using regulatory power to punish the network for programming and editorial decisions it disapproves of. According to Reuters, a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Washington alleges the FCC is coercing and retaliating against a network that refuses to comply with the administration's demands, likening the agency's actions to a severe attack on free speech.

The Trump administration has been aggressively targeting the news media, with the latest attempt following a prolonged two-year dispute between Trump and Disney. Last month, Trump demanded ABC stations lose their licenses because the network declined to air a prime-time election speech. The court case could serve as a crucial test of media outlets' free speech rights.

Disney and ABC are requesting the court to swiftly issue a temporary restraining order to prevent the license renewal process and the FCC from scheduling a hearing. The lawsuit claims the administration is infringing on the company's First Amendment rights by using regulatory power to retaliate against Disney and ABC for programming and editorial decisions it dislikes.

The FCC asserts the move is a result of a year-long investigation into whether Disney's diversity policies constitute unlawful discrimination, a claim the company denies. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan ordered the company and the FCC to propose a schedule for considering the temporary restraining order request and notified the agency if it initiates the revocation process for the ABC licenses.