# FCC’s early ABC licence review branded free speech assault by former chairs

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/former-fcc-chairs-and-officials-call-agencys-early-review-of-abc-licenses-an-assault-on-free-speech-disguised-as-regulatory-process/
- Published: 2026-07-28T15:02:32+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-28T21:12:29+00:00
- Original publisher: Deadline
- Original article: https://deadline.com/2026/07/fcc-abc-early-license-renewal-free-speech-1237005566/
- Topics: Art, Culture

## Key points

- Former FCC chairs call ABC licence review a free speech "assault"
- Filing says Carr prejudged outcome amid Kimmel joke fallout
- Over 141,000 public comments filed; ABC reply deadline has passed

## Summary

A coalition of former FCC chairs and senior officials, spanning both Republican and Democratic administrations, has filed formal opposition to Chairman Brendan Carr's early review of ABC's broadcast licences, branding it "an assault on free speech disguised as regulatory process." The Tuesday filing, signed by past chairs including Mark Fowler and Dennis Patrick (Reagan), Alfred Sikes (George W. Bush) and Thomas Wheeler (Obama), argues the proceeding was launched a day after President Trump and the First Lady criticised a Jimmy Kimmel joke about them, and accuses Carr of having prejudged the outcome as part of a broader campaign to suppress disfavoured speech.

The FCC ordered all eight ABC-owned stations to file renewal applications at the end of May, years ahead of their 2028 expiry, with Carr citing an ongoing probe into Disney's diversity, equity and inclusion policies; ABC complied but called the move "an extraordinary demonstration of power and coercion." The former officials also criticised campaign groups the Center for American Rights and the Media Research Center for urging the FCC to deny renewal over editorial choices, arguing this improperly targets First Amendment-protected discretion. More than 141,000 public comments have been submitted in the proceeding, with ABC's reply deadline falling on the Wednesday after the filing, and no further developments reported since.

## Coverage

- [Deadline: FCC’s early ABC licence review branded free speech assault by former chairs](https://deadline.com/2026/07/fcc-abc-early-license-renewal-free-speech-1237005566/)
- [Variety: FCC Slammed by Former Agency Officials Over Review of ABC’s Licenses: ‘An Assault on Free Speech Disguised as Regulatory Process’](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/fcc-slammed-former-officials-abc-licenses-assault-on-free-speech-1236822592/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.