FCC Commissioner Gomez Criticizes ABC for Temporarily Halting Jimmy Kimmel's Show
The Center for American Rights has escalated its criticism of ABC, KABC, and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, filing a supplemental complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over alleged violations of public interest rules.
The complaint, filed on September 17, follows an initial complaint filed in early September, accusing Kimmel of breaching FCC rules due to his comments on the death of Charlie Kirk.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr has argued that the agency has the power to revoke broadcast station licenses if they fail to provide balanced coverage. However, Commissioner Anna M. Gomez has repeatedly stressed that the FCC lacks the authority to remove broadcast licenses over news coverage and has emphasised that the agency does not have the constitutional right to police content or punish broadcasters for speech the government dislikes.
Gomez has criticised ABC's decision to suspend Kimmel's show, warning that the threat to revoke a broadcast license poses an existential risk to a broadcaster and endangers the right to free expression for everyone in the country.
The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) and Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) have issued strong statements attacking ABC, the FCC, and the decision to suspend the program. They have warned that corporations surrendering to government pressure endangers not just themselves but the right to free expression for everyone in the country.
Meanwhile, the Center for American Rights suggests that ABC's affiliates should hold ABC accountable for passing through material that fails to respect the public-interest standard. The Center has filed several complaints with the FCC asking the agency to investigate political bias at affiliates of broadcast networks.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has also weighed in on the issue, with Christopher Anders, director of the Democracy and Technology Division, attacking the suspension and FCC Chair Brendan Carr's views. Anders claimed that the suspension is unconstitutional and a threat to First Amendment freedoms.
In response to the controversy, Nexstar announced it would preempt the show on its 32 ABC affiliates that reach 126 million U.S. homes. ABC dropped the program after Carr's initial threat to revoke broadcast licenses of stations airing the show.
As the debate continues, it is clear that the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's show has sparked a heated discussion about free speech, government intervention, and the role of broadcasters in upholding the public interest.
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