FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez stated she is glad that ABC is suing the agency, viewing the lawsuit as a crucial step for media companies to challenge what she perceives as government intimidation.
ABC filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, alleging that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is targeting the network and its owned-and-operated stations due to political displeasure with its programming. The network's suit contends that the agency has violated ABC's First Amendment rights.
Gomez, the sole Democratic commissioner at the FCC, told MeidasTouch reporter Scott MacFarlane that it is time for a media conglomerate to take a public stance against the agency's actions. "I have long called on companies to push back against this kind of government intimidation, and I’m glad Disney has shown courage and stepped up," Gomez said.
The legal challenge comes amid recent actions by the FCC. In April, the agency required ABC to file early broadcast license renewal applications for all eight of its television stations. This action followed a joke made by ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel about first lady Melania Trump.
Last month, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr suggested that broadcasters, including networks like ABC and NBC, should have their licenses revoked for failing to air certain content, such as a speech by former President Donald Trump. Carr defended the FCC's scrutiny of ABC on Friday, asserting that broadcasters have a responsibility to "operate in the public interest" and that the FCC is acting to uphold this standard, according to the Associated Press.
ABC stated in a filing last month that the FCC's actions against it serve as a warning to other media companies. "The retaliation against ABC is a signal to every media company in the country: accommodate the Administration’s view of what news coverage should look like or pay the price," the network's filing read.