WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (both D-Calif.) urged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to review broadcast license renewal applications impartially and without political interference.
In a letter to the FCC, the Senators expressed support for the renewal of the broadcast licenses for KABC-TV (Los Angeles), KGO-TV (San Francisco), and KFSN-TV (Fresno), California television stations intended for local journalism and owned by the American Broadcasting Company (ABC). This letter comes in response to the FCC requiring the Walt Disney Company to file early license renewal applications, approximately two years before the licenses would typically be due for renewal, and public statements by the Trump Administration criticizing ABC and Disney over editorial news content.
The Senators expressed concern over the FCC’s possible motive for the early license renewals as politically motivated retaliation for protected editorial speech.
“The FCC’s licensing authority is intended to ensure that broadcasters serve the public interest not to influence or punish constitutionally protected editorial judgments,” wrote the Senators. “Public confidence in the Commission depends on its adherence to viewpoint neutrality and the rule of law. And as it relates to these stations and the FCC’s relationship with their parent company, it strongly appears that the FCC is abusing its authority.”
The Senators highlighted the stations’ extensive record of serving Californians through trusted local journalism, emergency coverage, public safety reporting, and community engagement. They further underscored the importance of these stations to California’s economy and the public’s trust in journalism.
“Their renewal applications present extensive evidence of decades of exemplary public service, and that record—not political disagreement with a parent company’s editorial choices—should govern the Commission’s decision,” continued the Senators. “Together, they employ hundreds of Californians, maintain local newsrooms and reporting bureaus, produce hundreds of hours of original local programming, provide free over-the-air access to trusted news and emergency information, and partner with countless nonprofit, educational, and civic organizations across our state.”
The Senators urged that broadcast licensing decisions be based on the statutory public-interest standard, not on disagreement with a broadcaster’s editorial viewpoints or programming.
“We respectfully urge the Commission to evaluate these renewal applications based solely on the factual record and the governing statutory standard, free from political considerations, and to promptly renew the licenses of KABC-TV, KGO-TV, and KFSN-TV,” concluded the Senators.
Full letter is available here and below:
Dear Secretary Dortch,
We write in strong support of the renewal of the broadcast licenses for KABC-TV, KGOTV, and KFSN-TV, three California television stations that have long served millions of Californians through trusted local journalism, lifesaving emergency coverage, civic engagement, and extensive public service programming.
At the outset, we are compelled to express our serious concern regarding the unprecedented circumstances surrounding these renewal proceedings. The Commission’s decision to require early renewal applications from ABC-owned stations, following repeated public statements by Chairman Brendan Carr criticizing Disney and ABC’s editorial decisions, creates the strong appearance that the FCC’s licensing authority is being used to pressure or retaliate against protected speech rather than to neutrally administer the Communications Act of 1934. The FCC’s licensing authority is intended to ensure that broadcasters serve the public interest, not to influence or punish constitutionally protected editorial judgments. Public confidence in the Commission depends on its adherence to viewpoint neutrality and the rule of law. And as it relates to these stations and the FCC’s relationship with their parent company, it strongly appears that the FCC is abusing its authority.
Now, as to whether these stations have served the public interest, the record demonstrates overwhelmingly that they have. Each station has invested heavily in local journalism, emergency preparedness, consumer protection reporting, public affairs programming, and community partnerships that directly benefit Californians. Their renewal applications present extensive evidence of decades of exemplary public service, and that record—not political disagreement with a parent company’s editorial choices—should govern the Commission’s decision.
Although each station serves a distinct region of California, they share a common commitment to sustained investment in local journalism and meaningful public service. Together, they employ hundreds of Californians, maintain local newsrooms and reporting bureaus, produce hundreds of hours of original local programming, provide free over-the-air access to trusted news and emergency information, and partner with countless nonprofit, educational, and civic organizations across our state.
At a time when local journalism faces extraordinary economic pressures, these stations continue to invest in the reporters, photographers, producers, engineers, and technical infrastructure necessary to deliver high-quality local news. Their work strengthens public safety, promotes civic participation, informs consumers, and helps connect Californians with the information they need during both everyday life and moments of crisis.
The Communications Act of 1934 directs the Commission to determine whether license renewal serves the public interest, convenience, and necessity. The extensive record submitted by KABC, KGO, and KFSN demonstrates that these stations have not merely satisfied that standard, they exemplify it.
For these reasons, we respectfully urge the Commission to evaluate these renewal applications based solely on the factual record and the governing statutory standard, free from political considerations, and to promptly renew the licenses of KABC-TV, KGO-TV, and KFSNTV.
Sincerely,