Telecommunications Act of 1996

Conservative groups urge the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to avoid setting precedents that could harm non-liberal media during ABC's license review. The groups argue that the FCC's scrutiny of ABC's public interest obligations and decision to skip President Trump's speech risks politicizing broadcast license renewals. The letter emphasizes preserving predictable renewal processes as outlined in the Telecommunications Act of 1996.

Bipartisan lawmakers aim to strip Big Tech's legal immunity, specifically Section 230 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which shields social media companies from lawsuits and criminal charges based on customer-posted content. This move is driven by concerns over free speech, government surveillance, and platform liability. Lawmakers like Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Jay Obernolte have played key roles in shaping internet regulation policy.

Disney, owner of ABC, has legal support to challenge the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) recent broadcast license review due to protections in the 1996 Telecommunications Act. Legal experts argue the law makes revoking or denying broadcast licenses extremely difficult, even during renewal processes.