FCC Commissioner Calls Trump's Push to Revoke NBC, ABC Licenses Unconstitutional

A top U.S. regulator has publicly condemned a call by former President Donald Trump to revoke the broadcast licenses of ABC and NBC, calling the move a legally baseless attempt to intimidate the media. The statement from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Anna Gomez came after the networks chose not to air a prime-time speech by the former president.

Trump's Call for Revocation

On Thursday, former President Trump urged that the broadcast licenses for ABC, owned by The Walt Disney Company (DIS), and NBC, a unit of Comcast (CMCSA), should be revoked. The call came after the networks declined to air his nearly half-hour speech, in which he reiterated claims about the reliability of U.S. elections.

"In a rare move NBC and ABC fake news have both said they would not cover this speech," Trump said on Thursday, according to a Reuters report. "Fraud like this should mean a revocation of their licenses."

First Amendment Protections Cited

In a statement on Friday, FCC Commissioner Gomez, the sole Democrat on the commission, described the former president's call as "ridiculous." She asserted that the broadcasters were exercising their constitutional rights.

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"Those editorial decisions are protected by the First Amendment, and the FCC has no authority to punish a station for refusing to air a blatantly political speech," Gomez stated. "This is a naked attempt to bully broadcasters, and the FCC should have no part in it."

Regulatory and Market Context

For investors in parent companies like Disney and Comcast, such political rhetoric highlights the regulatory and political risks inherent in the media sector. However, legal experts note that revoking a broadcaster's license is an exceptionally difficult and lengthy process.

According to the source, a license revocation requires a multi-step procedure, including a decision by an administrative law judge that can be appealed to the full FCC and the federal courts. While networks have historically aired most presidential speeches, officials noted that they have also previously declined to broadcast remarks from presidents of both parties, including Barack Obama and Joe Biden.