Donald Trump · Ars Technica
ABC refuses to capitulate to Trump admin, fights FCC probe into The View
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ABC is fighting back against the Trump administration’s attempt to police broadcast television content, saying that the Federal Communications Commission is violating the First Amendment.
Key facts
- Nevertheless, at the end of March, the Media Bureau ordered KTRK Television [a Houston-based ABC station] to file another Petition for Declaratory Ruling regarding The View ’s status as a bona fide
- The FCC “has not made any public announcements that it is investigating The Mark Levin Show, The Glenn Beck Program, the Guy Benson Show, or the licensees of KTBB, WBAP, KPRC, or KSEV
- ABC said in its filing that in 2002, the FCC confirmed that The View qualifies as a bona fide news program and is thus exempt from the equal-time rule, also known as the equal-opportunities rule
- The FCC Media Bureau recently ordered an ABC station to file a new petition for declaratory ruling on The View ‘s status
Summary
Led by Chairman Brendan Carr, the FCC accused ABC’s The View of not complying with the equal-time rule, even though the interview portions of talk shows have historically been exempt from the rule requiring equal time for opposing political candidates. An ABC filing that was made public today said the FCC exceeded its authority in actions that “threaten to upend decades of settled law and practice and chill critical protected speech, both about The View and more broadly.” The filing is primarily in response to the equal-time investigation, but ABC also seems determined to fight the larger license review. ABC said in its filing that in 2002, the FCC confirmed that The View qualifies as a bona fide news program and is thus exempt from the equal-time rule, also known as the equal-opportunities rule.