Philadelphia's local news station WPVI-TV — known to viewers as 6abc — is at risk of losing its broadcast license. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), a federal agency created to regulate the nation's airwaves in the public interest, launched an early review of ABC's eight owned-and-operated stations in April 2026. The review centers on an investigation into whether the network violated federal nondiscrimination laws in its hiring practices.

But the timing has raised serious concern. The FCC's announcement came just days after President Donald Trump publicly called on ABC to fire late-night host Jimmy Kimmel — a demand made on Truth Social after Kimmel made a joke about the first lady. Anna M. Gomez, the only Democrat on the FCC, wrote a letter to Disney, ABC's parent company, in May 2026 warning that the network was the target of what she described as a "sustained, coordinated campaign of censorship and control."

6abc has served the Philadelphia region for decades. Viewers depend on the station for breaking news, severe weather alerts, local election coverage, and community reporting that national outlets simply don't provide. Threatening its license puts that public service at risk — not because of any failure to serve viewers, but because of a dispute between the White House and a television network.

Federal broadcast regulators must be independent. When the government uses the power of licensing to pressure a news organization after a presidential social media post, every local station in America becomes vulnerable. The FCC's review should be conducted on the merits — transparently, fairly, and free from political influence.

Sign this petition to tell the FCC: protect the independence of local news. Complete this review fairly, and stop using broadcast licenses as a tool of political pressure.

Image by Ser Amantio di Nicolao, CC BY 3.0