Free Press Calls on the Carr FCC to End Its Corrupt Crusade Against ABC Programs and Stations

WASHINGTON — On Monday, Free Press urged the Federal Communications Commission to stop Chairman Brendan Carr’s capricious and corrupt efforts to bully ABC into complying with President Trump’s political agenda. Free Press also encouraged ABC and its parent company Disney to continue standing up against the campaign from the White House and FCC to silence the voices of people who disagree with or challenge the president and his views.

In a filing about whether the ABC program The View still qualifies for an exemption from the FCC’s Equal Opportunities Rule for political-candidate interviews, Free Press wrote: “The FCC is explicitly prohibited from dictating the editorial decisions of national news networks, late-night television programs, local newscasts, or any other media outlet,” adding that the agency’s proceeding against ABC station KTRK “never should have been opened.”

In 2002, the agency issued a “Declaratory Ruling” specifically determining that ABC-produced The View met the qualifications to receive a bona fide news-interview program exemption from that Equal Opportunities Rule. In the more than 20 years since then, the program has aired thousands of broadcasts and interviewed dozens of political candidates, all without controversy.

“That is until Chairman Carr, without justification, forced ABC to request a new exemption for The View,” the Free Press filing states. “This action, combined with the equally extraordinary FCC move to force ABC to file early renewal applications for its stations, comes after a months-long, sustained campaign by Carr and President Trump against ABC for continuing to employ Jimmy Kimmel, who tells jokes and makes political observations that anger Trump.”

For its part, Disney has stood up to Carr’s recent threats, deploying its legal team to argue against the FCC’s early-license renewal demand to ABC-owned stations across the country. ABC affiliates and the network itself have been airing announcements that urge viewers to file comments in the proceeding supporting ABC’s Equal Opportunity exemption and defending its continued use of its broadcast licenses.

Free Press General Counsel and Vice President of Policy Matt Wood said:

“There isn’t the slightest veneer of legitimacy in this proceeding. There is, however, enough evidence to show a clear link between the FCC’s action against KTRK-TV and Chairman Carr’s anti-ABC vendetta, which he’s pursuing on behalf of the president. This all stems from the Trump administration’s anger over statements aired and guests hosted on The View and Jimmy Kimmel Live. The First Amendment fully protects those statements and choices; they are not subject to Donald Trump’s tantrums or Brendan Carr’s twisted theories.

“Carr mistakenly believes he has the power to shake down media companies, censor broadcasters and punish newsrooms that won’t distort their coverage to placate a chaotic and image-obsessed president. Carr likes to pretend he’s the Minister of Truth when it comes to news coverage about this administration. 

“In reality, the law is crystal clear: The FCC is explicitly prohibited from dictating the editorial decisions of national news networks, late-night television programs, local newscasts or any other media outlet. The agency never should have opened this proceeding as The View has done nothing new and nothing wrong. It remains a bona fide news-interview program under existing law and FCC precedent. The agency should rescind its request forcing KTRK to file for an equal-opportunities exemption and close this dangerous and corrupt proceeding.”