Disney, ABC sue US FCC over threats to remove broadcast licenses
The court case will be a key test of the free speech rights of media outlets
On Tuesday, Aug 18, Disney and its ABC unit filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in an attempt to halt the early review of licenses for eight of its affiliated stations. The lawsuit alleges that the Trump administration is attempting to punish the network over its broadcast content, which contradicts the administration's preferences.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly urged broadcasters to drop content he disapproves of or which has criticized him and his administration, leading to the FCC's actions. Disney stated that the FCC is seeking to coerce and retaliate against the network, calling the agency's actions an "extraordinary assault on free speech." The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to prevent the FCC from scheduling a hearing and going forward with the license renewal process.
The FCC claims the move stems from a year-long investigation into potential unlawful discrimination in Disney's diversity policies, a claim the company denies. FCC Chair Brendan Carr ordered the reviews in April, despite license renewals not being scheduled until 2028. Carr has made no final decisions on revoking ABC's licenses but stated that the agency will "follow the facts and the law and keep moving forward."
Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez accused the FCC of launching a campaign of censorship and control against Disney's ABC stations, using the threat of revocation to punish the company for speech the administration disapproves of.
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