Particle.news
Download on the App Store
6 ARTICLES
·
2w ago

Judge Refuses Disney's Bid to Halt FCC's Early Review of ABC Licenses

The court set a months‑long briefing schedule with an early‑October hearing to test whether the agency may use accelerated license reviews to enforce public‑interest rules.

Image
Image
Image

Overview

  • The U.S. District Court denied Disney’s request for an immediate injunction on Thursday and ordered a briefing schedule that includes defendants’ opposition by Sept. 3 and a hearing in early October.
  • The FCC agreed to give Disney at least 48 hours’ notice before formally referring the eight ABC owned‑and‑operated station licenses to an administrative hearing.
  • Disney sued the agency arguing the April order to force early renewal applications is retaliatory and violates the First Amendment by punishing programming critical of the administration.
  • The FCC pushed back, with Chair Brendan Carr and agency spokespeople calling Disney’s rush to court meritless and saying no decision on a hearing referral has been made.
  • The dispute follows heavy public comment, FOIA requests from civil‑liberties groups, and political pressure from President Trump, and it could produce administrative hearings and multi‑stage federal appeals that clarify the FCC’s licensing powers.