Court Weighs Jurisdiction in ABC's Fight Against FCC License Review

Federal Judge Loren AliKhan heard two hours of arguments in Disney and ABC's lawsuit against the FCC over its accelerated review of eight ABC station licenses. No ruling was issued; DOJ must file supplemental briefing by October 9 and ABC respond by October 14. The threshold question is whether the district court has jurisdiction at all.

• FCC ordered early license renewals for eight ABC stations on April 28, 2026
• ABC says the review is chilling its editorial decisions ahead of the 2026 midterms
• DOJ argues the case belongs in an appeals court under the Hobbs Act
• Judge AliKhan deferred ruling, awaiting briefs due October 9 and 14