Recently, ABC filed a lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), arguing that the agency’s efforts to challenge its broadcast licenses are an effort to quash speech that President Donald Trump disagrees with. Following the filing of this lawsuit, David Inserra, a fellow for free expression and technology at the Cato Institute, released a statement:
“The current FCC has repeatedly used its power over broadcast speech to jawbone, punish, and threaten censorship of its political opponents. Today’s lawsuit by ABC Disney against the FCC directly challenges the broad and abusive powers that Congress and prior court decisions gave the FCC. No government agency should ever be empowered to restrict free expression based on what it thinks is fair, equal, or in the best interest of the public. In a world where the American people and press can speak through print, broadcast, cable, satellite, internet, and other forms of media, there is no justification for the FCC to continue to wield such significant power over broadcast speech.”
You can view Inserra’s previous work below:
- The FCC’s Public Interest Notice Is a House of Cards
- FCC’s Punitive Review of ABC-Disney’s Broadcast Licenses Shows Need to Protect Free Expression
- Free Expression Under Fire from the FCC
To speak with Inserra, contact Christopher Tarvardian.
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