The Latest on the FCC’s Early TV License Renewal Orders

Last month, we reported on two separate orders by the FCC’s Media Bureau Video Division Chief directing two TV station owners to file early license renewal applications amidst separate ongoing investigations of both groups.

One of those TV station group owners, Bridge News, LLC, filed a May 19th petition for reconsideration of the FCC’s April 27^th order, refusing to file renewal applications by the specified deadline. The filing argues that the directive to file early license renewal applications is unprecedented and unwarranted since no additional information is needed for the FCC to investigate their unauthorized transfers of control, which were admitted, and the parties were already negotiating a consent decree to resolve the matter. In addition, Bridge News argues that ordering early license renewals is not delegated to the FCC’s Media Bureau and was therefore improper.  It is not clear how or when the Media Bureau will respond.

Disney/ABC responded differently to the FCC’s separate April Order requiring it to file early renewal applications for its eight owned television stations as part of an ongoing investigation.  On May 28, 2026, it filed renewal applications for all eight stations “under protest” calling the early renewal order “inconsistent with a legitimate exercise of investigative authority” and “plainly incompatible with the First Amendment.”  Chairman Carr responded on social media, pointing to the FCC’s ongoing investigation about ABC/Disney’s alleged discriminatory use of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in hiring as the basis for the order.