The Reporters Committee is urging the Federal Communications Commission to reject petitions seeking to deny the renewal of Disney’s broadcast licenses for several of its ABC stations, raising concerns that the agency is retaliating against the company for its news coverage and other programming in violation of the First Amendment. In public comments submitted to the FCC on Wednesday, the Reporters Committee highlighted the agency’s highly unusual decision in April to launch an early review of the licenses of eight ABC stations following criticism of the network by the Trump administration, including FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. After the FCC launched its review, a coalition of conservative groups petitioned the agency to reject the license renewals, accusing the network of bias. The Reporters Committee’s comments note that Carr has repeatedly criticized ABC and its programming. The “FCC’s decision to haul Disney and ABC before it in a proceeding that has not occurred in five decades raises serious concerns of a chilling effect,” the Reporters Committee argues.