Le président de la FCC défend les actions contre ABC, affirmant que les radiodiffuseurs doivent agir "dans l'intérêt public"

ABC has denounced the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) early review of its broadcast licenses as an "unprecedented" intimidation campaign aimed at chilling free speech across the media industry. The Walt Disney-owned network formally opposed the move in a filing submitted Thursday, accusing the agency of retaliating against it due to the political content of its programming. The FCC, led by Chairman Brendan Carr, has defended the action, asserting that broadcasters have a responsibility to operate in the public interest and that the agency is merely seeking to enforce existing standards. The FCC initiated the early review in April, examining eight ABC local broadcast licenses well before their scheduled expiration dates. This marks the first time in over half a century that the commission has requested early license renewals. ABC argues that the timing of the review suggests political motivation, citing repeated calls from the administration for the revocation of its licenses due to disapproval of the content and viewpoints presented on its network. In a separate statement, ABC highlighted the overwhelming public support for its stance, noting that over 140,000 comments were submitted during the public comment period, with more than 95% expressing solidarity with the network. These supporters, according to ABC, represent a broad range of ideologies but share a common belief in the importance of free speech and press freedom. The conflict between ABC and the FCC extends beyond the current license review. The network is also challenging Carr’s attempts to classify "The View," a popular daytime talk show known for its often contentious political commentary, under equal-time rules. These rules mandate that broadcasters provide equal airtime to opposing political candidates, though bona fide news programs are exempt. In a 2002 ruling, the FCC classified "The View" as a news program, thereby exempting it from the equal-time requirements. However, Carr has raised concerns about the show's alleged bias and its potential influence on viewers' voting behavior. Carr has taken to social media to highlight instances where "The View" appears to encourage Democratic voters, suggesting that the show might be violating the equal-time rule. In a recent post, he shared a compilation of segments featuring the show’s hosts urging viewers to vote for Democrats, questioning whether the program qualifies as a legitimate news entity rather than a platform for partisan messaging. Despite his focus on perceived violations of broadcasting regulations, Carr has consistently denied that the FCC acts as a "speech police." During an appearance on the "The Conversation" podcast, he emphasized that his role is to enforce the laws enacted by Congress and to ensure that broadcasters fulfill their obligation to serve the public interest. He criticized the media landscape for having lost the trust of the American public, citing low levels of confidence in journalism. The tension between ABC and the FCC reflects broader concerns about the balance between government regulation and media independence. As the dispute continues, the FCC’s actions could set a precedent for how future license reviews are conducted and whether political considerations might influence regulatory decisions. Meanwhile, ABC remains steadfast in its argument that the FCC's approach threatens the constitutional right to free expression and could deter other media organizations from reporting freely.