A group of former Federal Communications Commission officials from both Republican and Democratic administrations urged the agency on July 28 to halt an unusual early review of Disney’s ABC television station licenses, warning the process could threaten free speech rights. The review targets eight ABC stations owned by Disney and was ordered by FCC Chair Brendan Carr despite the licenses not being scheduled for renewal until 2028.
In a joint filing, former commissioners Mark Fowler, Dennis Patrick, Alfred Sikes, Rachelle Chong, and former Democratic Chair Tom Wheeler characterized the review as an unprecedented and politically motivated action. They cautioned that the FCC’s plan to potentially revoke licenses years ahead of their expiration would be “an assault on free speech disguised as regulatory process” and could lead to reallocating the broadcast spectrum licensed to ABC to other entities.
The FCC initiated the review in April following a yearlong investigation into whether Disney’s diversity policies constituted unlawful discrimination—a charge Disney denies. The inquiry began in March 2025, when Carr said Disney’s submitted records were inadequate. Carr has not ruled out license revocation but has provided limited public comment, and Disney has declined to respond to the FCC’s statements.
Broadcast licenses authorize the use of public airwaves, and revoking them is rare. Critics argue that the threat of license loss could pressure broadcasters and raise concerns about governmental influence over content and editorial decisions. The early review ordered by Carr is the first of its kind by the FCC in over five decades.
The timing of the review has drawn additional scrutiny because it followed closely after former President Donald Trump urged ABC to dismiss late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Trump has frequently criticized broadcasters he perceives as unfavorable and has urged regulators to revoke licenses on multiple occasions. For instance, in November 2025, Trump demanded the FCC revoke ABC licenses after an ABC News correspondent questioned Saudi Arabia’s crown prince about the killing of a Washington Post journalist, which Trump labeled “insubordinate.”
In their filing, the former FCC officials also noted that the current administration’s approach to regulating broadcasters raises concerns about retaliatory actions against media organizations expressing viewpoints at odds with the government. They emphasized the broad First Amendment protections that enable broadcasters to make independent content decisions without government interference.
The FCC’s review also includes scrutiny of the ABC daytime talk show “The View,” though details of the investigation into the program have not been publicly disclosed. The agency has not commented further on the ongoing evaluations.