ABC Files License Renewals With FCC Under Protest, Calling Order Unlawful

ABC has submitted license-renewal applications for its eight ABC-owned stations to the FCC, but says it is doing so under protest after the agency ordered an accelerated renewal review tied to an ongoing DEI investigation; ABC contends the move is unlawful, arbitrary and unconstitutional and violates the First Amendment by pressuring speech, while the FCC says the action is part of its regulatory review. The affected stations are WABC-TV (New York), KABC-TV (Los Angeles), WLS-TV (Chicago), WPVI-TV (Philadelphia), KTRK-TV (Houston), KGO-TV (San Francisco), WTVD-TV (Raleigh-Durham) and KFSN-TV (Fresno). The network also cites concerns about the FCC’s use of the “call-up” provision and notes support from FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez for Disney/ABC’s position in this dispute.