ABC 7 Chicago fights back against FCC broadcast license review

Why it matters: The dispute is testing how far federal regulators can go in scrutinizing broadcasters over programming and corporate policies.

State of play: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr's scrutiny extends beyond DEI policies. He has also targeted programs such as ABC's "The View," arguing they should not automatically qualify for exemptions from equal-time requirements that apply to political candidates.

• ABC says the effort to investigate their local affiliates is "unlawful, arbitrary, and unconstitutional."

Zoom in: ABC 7 (WLS-TV) is fighting back. The local institution launched a new promo supporting "The View" and another asking viewers to write the FCC.

• "Chicago, use your voice. No one supports your community like ABC 7," the ad says, before asking viewers to scan a QR code to contact the FCC.
• The FCC's open comment period on the station ends July 29.

• ABC 7 won't comment on the investigation, but the national network has lambasted Carr, arguing his actions threaten to "upend decades of settled law and practice and chill critical protected speech."

Zoom out: ABC 7 has been the highest-rated television newscast in Chicago, dominating most dayparts for decades.

Flashback: ABC 7 isn't the first Chicago station to become entangled in a national political dispute. Earlier this year, Gov. JB Pritzker criticized WGN-TV for its ties to Nexstar, underscoring how local broadcasters are increasingly judged for decisions made by their corporate parents.