ABC Takes the Fight to Trump Administration Over FCC Probe

"ABC wrote that the network affirmed The View 's status as a "bona fide news interview program" in 2002 and that the show has conducted countless political and entertainment-based interviews in the decades since. The network says a recent order from the FCC for its Houston affiliate KTRK-TV to formally request confirmation that it qualified for the exemption was "unprecedented.""

"In February, FCC chairman Brendan Carr said the agency intended to begin enforcement actions against The View in connection with an interview that the talk show aired with Texas U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, suggesting that the program shouldn't qualify for the "bona fide" news exemption that would allow the interview to be aired without having to offer equal time to Talarico's opponents in the race like Representative Jasmine Crockett, who did not appear on The View during her campaign."

"ABC argued in its filing that the FCC has not sought similar probes into appearances by Texas Republican candidates on radio programs like The Mark Levin Show or The Glenn Beck Program, saying that such a disparity "raises serious concerns about viewpoint discrimination and retaliatory targeting.""

""Some may dislike certain - or even most - of the viewpoints expressed on The View or similar shows. Such dislike, however, cannot justify using regulatory processes to restrict those views," the filing said. "The danger is t""

ABC claims the FCC is violating First Amendment rights by continuing to challenge whether The View qualifies for the “bona fide” news exemption tied to the equal-time rule for political candidates. The FCC chairman indicated enforcement actions would follow an interview with Texas U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, arguing the program may not meet the exemption standard. ABC says the show was affirmed as a bona fide news interview program in 2002 and has since conducted many political and entertainment interviews. ABC calls a recent FCC order to require formal confirmation for its Houston affiliate unprecedented and argues the FCC has not probed similar radio appearances by Texas Republican candidates, raising concerns about viewpoint discrimination and retaliatory targeting.

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