ABC Asks FCC to Dismiss Early License Renewals in 109-Page Filing, Alleging Retaliation

MEDIAGPT | U.S. BROADCAST REGULATION

First early license review in more than 50 years targets eight owned stations; 153,000 comments filed, replies due August 5

The argument that a broadcast license is being used to adjust program content now sits in a formal filing from the largest U.S. broadcast network. ABC submitted a 109-page opposition to the Federal Communications Commission late on July 29 local time, made public July 30, asking the agency to dismiss the early license renewal proceedings against its eight owned-and-operated stations.

ABC 50여 년 만의 조기 면허 심사, 8개 직영국 정조준… 의견서 15만3000건, 8월 5일 반박서면 뒤 결정

ABC가 109쪽 반대 의견서를 내고 직영 지역방송국 8곳의 조기 면허 갱신 절차를 각하하라고 요구. 50여 년간 쓰이지 않던 조기 심사 권한이 프로그램 내용을 겨냥해 되살아나면서, 지상파 사업자가 보유한 면허 구조 자체가 편성 자율성의 취약 지점으로 노출. 규제기구의 구성과 의결 절차가 방송 사업권을 좌우하는 국면은 YTN 최다액출자자 변경을 둘러싸고 한국에서도 2년째 진행 중

K엔터테크허브 (K-EnterTech Hub)Jung Han

The filing states that each of the eight stations is owned by ABC and that the administration has openly and repeatedly called for revocation of ABC’s licenses because it dislikes the content and viewpoints expressed on the network’s programs. The FCC had not invoked early license review in more than 50 years.