ABC has filed a petition with the FCC, accusing the Trump administration of violating its free speech rights. The network argues that regulatory action and scrutiny focused on "The View" threaten to chill critical protected speech.
The point of contention centers on whether "The View" is subject to equal time rules. In its filing, ABC claims the administration is attempting to chill its constitutionally protected free speech.
This move represents the most aggressive posture taken yet by a television network toward the Trump administration. Despite the pressure, the FCC chair has been unable to bully ABC and its owner, Disney, into submission.