US Senate Democrats urge FCC chair to withdraw early ABC licence renewal order
A group of Senate Democrats has asked Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr to rescind an order requiring ABC to apply early to renew eight television station licences.
The letter says the move amounts to an abuse of power and raises First Amendment concerns.
The licences were not due for renewal until between 2028 and 2031, but the FCC has told ABC to file renewal requests by the end of May.
Carr has said the decision is linked to an ongoing investigation into diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at Disney, ABC's parent company.
The senators said the commission cannot act as a censor over editorial decisions and accused Carr of using licensing powers against broadcasters whose content displeases the president.
They also pointed to the timing of the order, which came a day after the president and his wife called for ABC to fire comedian Jimmy Kimmel over a joke.
The letter was led by Edward J Markey, Chuck Schumer, Maria Cantwell and Ben Ray Luján, and was also signed by eight other senators.
It asks Carr to answer a series of questions by 21 May.
The dispute matters because the FCC has authority over broadcast licences, and any move to accelerate renewal can affect a network's regulatory position well before its normal deadline.
