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 that the proceeding was launched the 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 investigation into Disney's diversity, equity and inclusion policies. ABC has called the move "an extraordinary demonstration of power and coercion." The former officials' filing specifically challenges petitions from the Center for American Rights and the Media Research Center seeking denial of the licences, arguing these groups are improperly asking the FCC to police editorial choices protected by the First Amendment. More than 141,000 comments have now been submitted to the proceeding, with ABC's response to objections due on Wednesday.