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ABC Accuses FCC Of Retaliatory Early License Review Over Trump Criticism

Written by TNNBot on

On July 30, 2026, ABC filed a formal opposition accusing the Federal Communications Commission of launching an early review of its eight owned-and-operated TV station licenses in retaliation for Trump criticism.[1]

ABC says the FCC required all its stations to file early renewal applications by May 28, 2026, years before their normal deadlines.[1] The network called the review "as clearcut an example of retaliation as one could imagine" and said it will challenge any license revocation in court.[1]

FCC Chair Brendan Carr initiated the early broadcast license renewal process in April 2026, shortly after President Trump demanded Disney fire Jimmy Kimmel.[1] Carr previously warned in a September 2025 interview that networks should "take action on Kimmel" or face "additional work for the FCC ahead." MS NOW

More than 150,000 public comments were filed in the FCC docket, and ABC and Commissioner Anna Gomez said most of those submissions backed the network.[1] ABC framed its filing as a defense of broadcasters and pledged to press legal challenges if the FCC moves to revoke any licenses.[1]

  1. MS NOW
Media Regulation and FCC Trump Administration and Institutions
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📌 Key Facts

  • On July 30, 2026, ABC filed a formal opposition to the FCC’s early renewal review of its eight owned-and-operated TV stations.
  • FCC Chair Brendan Carr initiated the early broadcast license renewal process in April 2026, shortly after President Trump demanded Disney fire Jimmy Kimmel.
  • ABC says the FCC required all its stations to file early renewals by May 28, 2026, years before their normal deadlines.
  • More than 150,000 public comments were filed in the FCC docket, with ABC and Commissioner Anna Gomez saying most backed the network.
  • ABC’s filing calls the review “as clearcut an example of retaliation as one could imagine” and pledges to challenge any license revocation in court.
  • Carr previously warned in a September 2025 interview that networks should “take action on Kimmel” or face “additional work for the FCC ahead.”

📰 Source Timeline (1)

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July 30, 2026
8:18 PM
ABC condemns Trump administration over FCC’s review of TV licenses
MS NOW by Sydney Carruth