Comments to the Federal Communications Commission
RE: In the Matter of Early License Renewal Applications of Disney’s ABC Stations
MB Docket No. 26-131
July 29, 2026
I. Introduction
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has taken the almost unprecedented step of requiring eight Disney owned ABC stations to renew their broadcast licenses years before they were otherwise due for renewal. Given the timing and context of this requirement, it’s clear that the FCC is attempting to abuse its regulatory authority to punish ABC because of its speech, and chill broadcasters from airing content that is critical of the Administration or which the administration doesn’t agree with.
As the FCC notes on its own website, “the limitations on the FCC’s power to restrict or ban speech begin with the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which decrees that the federal government ‘shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press.” [1]
Because this entire proceeding appears to be a farce intended to punish protected speech – we will not comment on whether or not these stations complied with antidiscrimination law, whether or not their licenses should be renewed or whether these stations are meeting the public interest standard. Instead, we urge the FCC to immediately drop its call for these stations to renew their broadcast licenses early, and commit to never again use its powers to retaliate against or chill disfavored speech.
II. The FCC’s Call for Early License Renewal is Motivated by Protected Speech
The FCC is purportedly requiring these stations to renew their broadcast licenses years early due to an alleged violation of the FCC’s discrimination laws.[2] But, the timing and context of this action make it impossible for any reasonable observer to separate it from the government’s ongoing pressure campaign targeting not just ABC, but all disfavored broadcasters.
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[1] FED. COMMC’NS COMM’N, THE FCC AND FREE SPEECH (2022),
https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/fcc-and-speech (last visited June 9, 2026).
[2] Federal Communications Commission Order DA 26-416, In the Matter of The Walt Disney Company et al. (Apr.
28, 2026), https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-26-416A1.pdf.
Ashkhen Kazaryan is a Senior Legal Fellow at The Future of Free Speech, where she leads initiatives to protect free expression and shape policies that uphold the First Amendment in the digital age.