ABC demands FCC drop its ‘punitive’ early license renewal of its stations

ABC has formally opposed the Federal Communications Commission's effort to force an early renewal of its broadcast station licenses, calling it a punitive measure. The company claims the FCC's pursuit of early renewal for eight of its licenses is extraordinary and unprecedented, and alleges the agency has been searching for a pretext to revoke the licenses for 18 months. ABC believes the FCC's real motivations are to chill the speech of broadcasters across the country. The FCC's actions are seen as a threat to the company's freedom of expression, with ABC arguing that the agency's true intentions are not in line with its stated goals.

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