Former FCC Chiefs Criticize Brendan Carr Over ABC License Review

Former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) leaders and officials have sharply criticized the agency's current chairman, Brendan Carr, and the FCC itself for initiating an early review of spectrum licenses for eight ABC-owned television stations. These former officials, in a filing submitted to the FCC on Tuesday, characterized the review as an "assault on free speech disguised as a regulatory process" and accused the agency of pursuing a campaign to "censor Disney's and ABC's speech." The group of former officials includes individuals who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, underscoring a broad bipartisan concern regarding the FCC's actions.

The early review of ABC's licenses is considered highly unusual by regulatory standards. Typically, such reviews occur closer to the expiration of existing licenses, which for these stations are not due for renewal for several years. The decision to scrutinize these licenses now has been interpreted by critics as a retaliatory measure, potentially linked to ABC News's reporting on Republican politicians, including FCC Chairman Brendan Carr himself. The filing explicitly states that the "unusual and unprecedented" review appears to be motivated by a desire to punish ABC for its journalistic content.

Among the signatories of the filing are former FCC Chairs Newton Minow and Richard Wiley, as well as former Commissioners Sherrie Burgett, Ervin Duggan, and Kathleen Abernathy. Their collective statement emphasizes that the FCC's mandate is to regulate the airwaves, not to dictate or influence the content of news reporting. They argue that by targeting ABC's licenses, the FCC under Carr is overstepping its authority and engaging in behavior that undermines the First Amendment's protection of free speech and the press. The former officials contend that this action sets a dangerous precedent for how the FCC might interact with broadcasters in the future, potentially chilling journalistic independence.

The filing further elaborates that the FCC's actions are not only procedurally irregular but also substantively flawed, as there has been no indication of ABC violating any broadcast regulations that would warrant such an early and aggressive review. The critics suggest that the review process itself, initiated without clear cause, creates an atmosphere of intimidation. They are urging the FCC to abandon this review and adhere to established regulatory timelines and principles, thereby safeguarding the integrity of broadcast journalism and the public's right to receive information without undue governmental interference. The filing represents a significant public rebuke of Chairman Carr's leadership and the direction of the FCC under his tenure.