In a significant development for media oversight, more than 25,000 individuals from across the United States have joined the Media and Democracy Project (MAD) in calling for a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) hearing regarding the broadcast license renewal of FOX Corporation-owned television station FOX 29 Philadelphia (WTXF). This massive show of public support comes one year after MAD initially filed a Petition to Deny the license renewal application.
The 611-page filing, which includes signatories from all fifty states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico, represents a rare level of public engagement in an FCC proceeding. Milo Vassallo, executive director of MAD, emphasized the significance of this grassroots effort, stating, ‘Rarely does an FCC proceeding generate such a groundswell of public engagement, and we’re thrilled to have so many supporters joining our effort.’
At the heart of the petition are serious allegations regarding FOX’s conduct during and after the 2020 presidential election. MAD’s Petition to Deny documents what it describes as character and rule violations related to WTXF’s parent corporation’s behavior, particularly the spreading of misinformation about the election. The petition argues that this intentional distortion of news, allegedly authorized at the highest levels of FOX’s corporate structure, represents a severe breach of the FCC’s policy on licensee character qualifications.
The filing cites the court decision in Dominion v. FOX, stating that the actions of Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch ‘shock the conscience.’ Petitioners argue that these actions not only undermined the integrity of the 2020 election but also contributed to the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. This connection between media conduct and public safety underscores the potential far-reaching consequences of broadcast license decisions.
Adding weight to the petition is the support of various experts and former officials. Former FOX Broadcasting executive Preston Padden noted, ‘Never in the history of the Commission has the agency been confronted with a license renewal applicant whose parent company was found by a court of law to have repeatedly presented false news.’ This statement highlights the unprecedented nature of the situation and the potential precedent it could set for media regulation.
The petition has also garnered support from a bipartisan group of former FCC officials, media veterans, and a noted First Amendment scholar. This diverse backing emphasizes the broad concern across various sectors about the implications of FOX’s alleged conduct on media integrity and public trust.
In October 2023, MAD filed a motion requesting the FCC to compel FOX to produce key nonpublic discovery from its various lawsuits. This move aims to ensure full transparency and accountability in the license renewal process. However, nine months have passed since this motion was filed, and the FCC has yet to take significant action beyond opening the petition for public comment.
The substantial public response to this petition underscores the growing concern among citizens about the role and responsibility of media organizations in maintaining democratic integrity. As stated in the filing, the petitioners believe that ‘owning a broadcast station is more than a business—it is a public trust.’ This perspective challenges the FCC to consider not just the legal aspects of license renewal but also the broader implications for public interest and democratic discourse.
As this case unfolds, it has the potential to set important precedents for media regulation and accountability in the digital age. The outcome could influence how broadcast licenses are evaluated in the future, particularly in cases where questions of character and public trust are at stake. For the public, this case represents a critical juncture in the ongoing debate about media responsibility, truth in reporting, and the safeguarding of democratic processes.
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