26-124 — Comment Digest

Whether 'The View' qualifies as a bona fide news interview program, affecting its regulatory treatment.

Filers split on: “The Commission should recognize 'The View' as a bona fide news interview program.”

• Kymberleigh Richards DA 26 124support — The commenter argues that The View qualifies as a bona fide news program due to its discussion of current events and knowledgeable guests presented without bias, and contends that the investigation is unfounded as it lacks a formal complaint and is not based on any actual violations of the equal time provisions.p. 1
• John Harveysupport — The commenter believes that 'The View' qualifies as a bona fide news program and should be treated as such by the FCC.p. 1
• Jim Reese PUBLIC COMMENT ONoppose — The commenter argues that ABC and Disney mislead viewers by labeling The View as a news program, as it fails to meet the criteria for actual news reporting, and insists that it should not be exempt from the statutory requirements applicable to news programs, especially concerning the equal treatment of political viewpoints.p. 1
• CHARLES JAY ISEMAN FCC.MM Docket No 26 124.Iseoppose — The commenter urges the FCC to reevaluate 'The View' and conclude that it does not meet the criteria for a bona fide news program, thus should not be exempt from equal opportunities requirements.p. 1
• Media Research Center Addendum 1 MRCoppose — The commenter argues that The View has shifted from being a legitimate news program to a partisan political operation, thus disqualifying it from exemption under equal opportunity rules.p. 2
• Article III Project The View FCCoppose — The commenter urges the FCC to classify The View's programming as not meeting the criteria for a bona fide news interview program due to its evident political bias, arguing that it consistently promotes Democratic candidates while marginalizing conservative viewpoints.pp. 1, 3

The FCC's actions are perceived as infringing on First Amendment rights and free speech.

Filers split on: “The Commission should reject actions that infringe on First Amendment rights.”

• Cynthia Holloway FCCsupport — The commenter strongly disapproves of the FCC's investigations into media outlets, particularly ABC, viewing them as unwarranted actions that undermine journalistic integrity and intimidate media organizations, posing a direct threat to the independence and survival of a free press in the U.S., while also believing these actions violate fundamental rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.p. 1
• Dee Russo The FCC should NOT interfere with thsupport — The commenter believes that the FCC's involvement would infringe upon fundamental rights of expression and press freedom.p. 1
• Lawrence Bush 26 124support — The commenter argues that the FCC's actions against media voices violate free speech and threaten democracy, while also asserting that the FCC's current approach harms the U.S. and supports those who oppose democratic values globally.p. 1
• George Primavera FCC Publicsupport — The commenter contends that the FCC's actions violate First Amendment rights by using regulatory threats to suppress speech and intimidate broadcasters, selectively enforcing regulations against ABC while ignoring similar content from others, unfairly targeting ABC compared to broadcasters that support the administration, and suggests that Chairman Carr's avoidance of judicial scrutiny indicates that his actions cannot withstand legal examination.pp. 1, 2, 3, 6
• Angela Rae Thompson FCC COMPLAINTsupport — The commenter believes that the FCC's actions would undermine democratic principles and interfere with media freedom.p. 1
• Joseph LaLumia ABC commentsupport — The commenter believes that the FCC's actions are politically motivated and infringe on free speech rights.p. 1

Concerns about the FCC overstepping its regulatory authority in influencing network content.

Filers split on: “The Commission should deny any actions that overstep its regulatory authority.”

• Nicole Quinn Blank 95support — The commenter argues that the FCC's attempt to influence network content, particularly in favor of politically preferred programming, oversteps its regulatory authority and believes that pressuring networks to provide certain content constitutes a form of bullying that should not be permitted.p. 1
• Benjamin Schneider 2026 06 23 Publicoppose — The commenter believes that the denial would be unjustified and politically motivated, undermining the integrity of the FCC, and argues that the action appears to be influenced by political pressure rather than regulatory concerns, which undermines public confidence in the FCC. Additionally, the commenter expresses concern that the FCC is moving away from its established practices, potentially allowing government influence over acceptable viewpoints.pp. 1, 2
• Ivenette LaCount FCCsupport — The commenter asserts that the FCC's role should be limited and not involve influencing media content or operations based on political pressures.p. 1
• Olga Roig Oroigoppose — The commenter argues that the FCC should not engage in politically motivated harassment of broadcasting companies regarding their programming choices, as it exceeds their authority.p. 2
• J Guidry 26 124 commentssupport — The commenter argues that the FCC should not assess the legitimacy of one type of news programming over another, as this could lead to inconsistent applications of the law.p. 2
• The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expreoppose — The commenter contends that the FCC has become an extension of the presidency, threatening free speech and journalistic independence, and views its recent notice to broadcasters as a veiled threat of regulatory repercussions for non-compliance. Additionally, the commenter highlights a bias in the FCC's selective enforcement of news exemptions, particularly against television, and argues that the historical justification for content regulation based on spectrum scarcity is outdated due to technological advancements.pp. 3, 5, 26, 43

The importance of maintaining editorial independence from government influence in media programming.

Filers split on: “The Commission should mandate editorial independence for broadcasters.”

• Colleen Loveless Publicoppose — The commenter believes that protecting editorial independence is crucial for both broadcasters and the public's access to diverse ideas.p. 1
• Kathleen Coughlinoppose — The commenter argues that editorial decisions should be made independently by media organizations without government interference due to First Amendment concerns, the risk of political favoritism, and the threat to press independence, insisting that the FCC must remain neutral in political matters to prevent biased coverage.p. 1
• Competitive Enterprise Institute CEI TPA Youngoppose — The commenter argues that maintaining this classification is essential for protecting freedom of speech and expression by preventing government interference in journalistic decisions, emphasizing the historical context of government power being used to silence opposing views, and asserting the importance of a clear boundary to prevent government officials from influencing which speakers receive coverage.pp. 1, 2
• J Guidry 26 124 commentsoppose — The commenter argues that the government should not pressure broadcasters to conform to a politically neutral standard, as this would infringe on free speech.p. 3
• Taylor Loveless Support for ABC and Disneyoppose — The commenter believes that protecting editorial independence is crucial for a free press and democracy, and that government pressure on media organizations is unacceptable.p. 1
• Independent Women Publicsupport — The commenter stresses the necessity of fair and consistent rules for media institutions to maintain public confidence, arguing that the exemption for journalists should not be misused for political advocacy and that applying uniform standards to all programs, irrespective of political leanings, is essential for distinguishing journalism from advocacy.pp. 1, 4

The application and enforcement of the equal opportunities rule in political broadcasting.

Filers split on: “The Commission should enforce the equal opportunities rule to ensure fairness in political broadcasting.”

• J Guidry 26 124 commentsoppose — The commenter believes that imposing equal opportunity requirements would discourage broadcasters from engaging in political discussions, ultimately harming public access to political information.p. 3
• Information Technology and Innovation Foundatioppose — The commenter argues that the equal opportunities requirement for broadcasters is a content-based regulation that fails constitutional standards, lacks a compelling government interest, is impractical, disincentivizes airtime for candidates, and is based on an outdated legal foundation regarding spectrum scarcity that should be overruled by the Supreme Court.pp. 3, 8, 9
• Competitive Enterprise Institute CEIoppose — The commenter believes that the equal opportunities requirement is obsolete due to the proliferation of media platforms, as its original intent to ensure candidate access through broadcasting is no longer relevant. Additionally, they argue that the requirement creates an uneven playing field, disadvantaging broadcasters compared to unregulated media platforms and resulting in less political coverage on broadcast channels.pp. 12, 13
• Wayne E. Vettleson FCC docket 26 124oppose — The commenter argues that the equal opportunities rule for broadcast programming is outdated and lacks relevance in today's media landscape, where other forms of communication dominate.p. 1
• Media Action Center MAC Bonafide News and Equamodify — The commenter argues that current rules hinder broadcasters from interviewing multiple candidates in elections with many participants and calls for new FCC guidelines to ensure fair opportunities for all candidates. Additionally, they point out that exemptions for certain radio programs from Equal Opportunities rules have resulted in a biased media landscape, emphasizing the need for fairness in public airwaves.pp. 5, 6
• Tony Jarrett comment fcc the viewsupport — The commenter believes that allowing this exemption would violate the principles of equal opportunity in broadcasting.p. 1

Ensuring diverse viewpoints are represented in media platforms like Hulu.

Filers split on: “The Commission should require platforms to include diverse media representations.”

• One Ministriessupport — OMI insists that the FCC must enforce the Communications Act to ensure platforms like Hulu Plus Live TV include independent stations like KQSL, arguing that this inclusion aligns with legislative goals for balanced media representation. OMI highlights its ignored attempts to have KQSL included on Hulu, indicating a lack of fair treatment, and emphasizes the necessity of Christian television stations to provide diverse perspectives in the media landscape.p. 1
• The View THE VIEWsupport — The commenter believes that The View is essential for providing diverse perspectives and fostering democratic engagement in media.p. 1
• BRIAN ROGERS Document 13.docxsupport — The commenter believes that The View is biased towards the left and should include perspectives from both sides to ensure fairness.p. 1
• Debbie DeVries ABCoppose — The commenter emphasizes that viewers can easily change the channel and decide what content they want to engage with, reinforcing the idea of personal choice in media consumption.p. 1
• Bill Jenkins FCC DISNEY ABC 26124 JUNE 2026 — The commenter advocates for the approval of DISNEY / ABC's operating license renewal, indicating that there should be no negative bias against it during the renewal process.p. 1
• Daniel Evans The View commentoppose — The commenter points out that there are many other platforms available for candidates to express their views, suggesting that additional changes are unnecessary.p. 1