ABC Fires Back at FCC For ‘Chilling Effect’ on Free Speech

Walt Disney Co.’s ABC network fired back at the Federal Communications Commission on Friday, accusing the regulatory agency of seeking to “chill critical protected speech” and denouncing the government’s efforts to shape media content to its liking.

ABC outlined its position in a lengthy FCC filing on Friday. It specifically aimed to respond to the FCC’s review of its daytime talk show The View, but made clear that the Commission’s actions affect the media landscape more broadly. ABC said the Commission’s review is “unprecedented,” beyond its authority and counterproductive to its “stated goal of encouraging free speech and open political discussion.”