Ex-FCC officials warn agency sending ‘chilling message’ with ABC license review

Ex-officials ask FCC to reject petitions to deny renewal of broadcast licenses for eight stations owned by ABC

A group of prominent former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) officials, including key staffers and commissioners appointed by both Democratic and Republican presidents, issued a filing Tuesday that warns the agency is trying to send a “chilling message” to broadcasters after it received petitions to deny ABC license renewals for eight of its local television stations.

The network’s licenses are up for early renewal after an extremely unusual order from the Brendan Carr-led FCC in late April, following criticism of ABC by Donald Trump and Melania Trump.
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