US FCC Will Release Public Comments on Bid to Deny Fox TV Station License Renewal

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Federal Communications Fee in an uncommon transfer on Wednesday stated it might publicly launch feedback on a bid by an advocacy group to disclaim the renewal of a licence for Fox Tv Stations’ Philadelphia station.

The Media and Democracy Challenge in July requested the U.S. telecom regulator to disclaim a licence renewal for WTXF-TV in Philadelphia, saying Fox Information aired “false details about election fraud” concerning the 2020 presidential election and arguing it sowed discord and contributed “to dangerous and harmful acts on January 6” on the U.S. Capitol.

The group argued it “quantities to misconduct that violates the FCC’s coverage on the character required of broadcast licensees.”

The FCC stated it was opening a public docket permitting for launch of feedback and displays, saying allowing broader participation will serve the general public curiosity.

“For the sake of transparency, now everybody can learn the filings and evaluate the document because it develops,” an FCC spokesperson stated.

The Media and Democracy Challenge cited Fox Corp and Fox Information $787.5 million settlement in April resolving a defamation lawsuit by Dominion Voting Methods over whether or not Fox was chargeable for airing false claims Dominion’s ballot-counting machines have been used to control the presidential election in favor of Democrat Joe Biden over then-President Donald Trump, a Republican.

A Fox Tv spokesperson on Wednesday stated the “petition to disclaim the license renewal of WTXF-TV is frivolous, utterly with out advantage and asks the FCC to upend the First Modification and long-standing FCC precedent.”

Fox famous WTXF-TV/FOX 29 Information Philadelphia broadcasts over 60 hours of native information and different programming weekly.

The FCC, an impartial federal company, doesn’t license broadcast networks, however points them to particular person broadcast stations on a staggered foundation for eight-year intervals.

Fox cited FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel’s feedback in 2017opposing Trump’s suggestion the FCC might revoke the printed license for Comcast’s NBC over protection of his administration.

Rosenworcel stated in 2017 FCC opinions do “not contain the federal government making editorial choices about content material. Doing so can be an affront to our First Modification custom.”

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Modifying by Sonali Paul)

Copyright 2023 Thomson Reuters.