美国联邦通信委员会主席布伦丹·卡尔为该机构针对ABC的行动进行了辩护，声称广播公司"有义务按照公共利益进行运营"[1]。此言论出炉之际，ABC已对FCC提出指控，称该机构因不满其政治内容而进行报复，并对八个ABC旗下本地广播许可证启动了提前审查[1]。
ABC在提交的文件中指出，"没有疑问为什么委员会挑选这八个电台。每一个都由ABC拥有，政府公开多次呼吁撤销ABC的许可证"[1]。FCC于4月启动了这一提前审查程序[1]，这是超过50年来该机构首次采取此类行动[1]。在公众评议中，ABC获得了广泛支持，收到超过140,000份公众评论，其中超过95%支持ABC的立场[1]。
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has defended the agency's accelerated review of eight ABC-owned local broadcast licenses, asserting that broadcasters have a responsibility to operate "in the public interest."[1] The FCC initiated the early renewal process for these stations in April, marking the first such action by the agency in more than 50 years.[1]
ABC has characterized the regulatory action as politically motivated retaliation, arguing that the targeted stations are exclusively ABC-owned properties and that government officials have previously called for the revocation of ABC's licenses.[1] The network submitted filings contending that the early review demonstrates political suppression tied to dissatisfaction with the broadcaster's editorial content.[1] In response to the FCC's action, ABC received more than 140,000 public comments, with over 95 percent supporting the network's position.[1]