FCC asks court to reject Disney lawsuit over ABC stations’ licenses

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is asking a federal judge to toss a lawsuit brought by Disney and ABC over the agency’s move to call several of the network’s local stations for early license renewal. 

In a filing with the court made public Thursday, lawyers for the FCC argued the Disney suit is premature and obstructs what it characterized as a necessary part of its investigation into the company’s diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) hiring policies.  

Disney contends the commission is attempting to stifle its First Amendment rights on the basis of the content broadcast on ABC.  

“This would only hobble the Commission’s efforts to investigate and resolve serious allegations that Disney has engaged in unlawful discrimination, and from otherwise ensuring that Disney’s stations are serving the public interest,” the agency wrote in its filing. “Plaintiffs, in return, would only free themselves from the burdens of proving their case in........

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