1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

POLITICAL WEAPONIZATION OF FCC LICENSING POWER MUST BE STOPPED As your constituent, I urge you to speak out against any use of Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensing power to pressure, punish, or intimidate broadcasters, journalists, comedians, religious stations, local stations, or media companies because of protected speech. Reports that the FCC ordered early license reviews of Disney-owned ABC stations immediately after political criticism of Jimmy Kimmel raise a serious constitutional concern. Reviews reportedly not due until 2028 were suddenly advanced following that criticism. Congress must determine whether federal regulatory power was used in response to disfavored speech. This is not about any one network or entertainer; it is about whether government authority is being used to penalize protected expression. NO ADMINISTRATION SHOULD CONTROL SPEECH THROUGH LICENSING POWER This issue should concern all Members of Congress. If any administration can use licensing power against disfavored speakers, that same power can later be used against conservative, liberal, religious, local, or independent media outlets. Broadcast licenses carry public responsibilities, but they are not tools for political control. The FCC may enforce neutral rules on technical compliance, ownership, nondiscrimination, and lawful public-interest standards. It may not use those rules as a pretext for viewpoint discrimination or retaliatory enforcement. CONGRESS MUST PROTECT LOCAL MEDIA AND AGENCY INDEPENDENCE The danger is not limited to Disney, ABC, or Jimmy Kimmel. Local broadcasters in every state and district could be chilled if license reviews appear to turn on political anger rather than neutral law. This requires public oversight, not quiet concern. Congress must protect agency independence, First Amendment safeguards, and the principle that no President of either party may use regulatory power to pressure the press or punish lawful speech. I urge you to take these steps: (1) Speak out publicly against any use of FCC authority to punish protected speech, journalism, satire, religious expression, local broadcasting, or political viewpoint. (2) Hold oversight hearings requiring FCC leadership to explain the legal basis, timing, communications, and political context of these license reviews. (3) Obtain communications between the White House, FCC officials, political appointees, and outside groups concerning Disney, ABC, Jimmy Kimmel, similarly situated broadcasters, or possible retaliation through broadcast licensing. (4) Pass legislation prohibiting any federal agency from initiating, accelerating, delaying, or conditioning licensing or enforcement actions based on the content of protected speech or the political viewpoint of the speaker. Thank you.