ABC filed early license renewal applications for its eight television stations on May 28, 2026, in response to a demand from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). ABC objected to the FCC's order from April 28, which initiated the early renewal process, claiming it was unlawful and unconstitutional. ABC stated that the FCC had not required early renewals in over fifty years and criticized the simultaneous application requirement for multiple stations owned by the same network.
In its filing, ABC called for the FCC to rescind the order, arguing it was incompatible with the First Amendment. The company expressed concern that the order could lead to an attack on its licenses and suppress speech under bureaucratic processes. The FCC's decision was linked to scrutiny of ABC's diversity and inclusion policies and followed public calls from former President Donald Trump and Melania Trump for action against ABC host Jimmy Kimmel.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr stated that the decision was not related to Kimmel, but ABC noted the timing of the order as suspicious. ABC warned that the early renewal process could have a chilling effect on independent journalism and criticized the FCC for targeting an entire network rather than individual stations. Carr defended the FCC's actions, stating they were justified by an investigation into Disney's hiring practices. Additionally, the FCC is enforcing the equal time rule against ABC's show "The View" for not providing equal coverage to all candidates in a Senate race.
