The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the FCC seeking records on the agency’s decision to require select ABC-owned stations to renew their broadcast licenses early.
In the August 11 filing, the ACLU argued the move is part of a broader Trump administration effort to chill news coverage critical of the administration.
The FCC has said it is requiring eight ABC stations to renew early because they potentially violated rules against unlawful discrimination. The ACLU contends that stated reason is pretext for punishing ABC over comments by its on-air talent that the administration disliked, and for sending a warning to other broadcasters that airing disfavored content could bring similar penalties.
The group pointed to recent controversies involving content on ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The View that led President Trump and FCC Chair Brendan Carr to threaten removal of station licenses. It also cited the FCC’s broader pattern of investigating, threatening, or regulating broadcasters after the president criticized their coverage, including a “reminder” that licenses are a privilege dependent on serving the public interest—issued after Trump repeatedly called for revoking licenses of outlets he views as unfair.