"Since the NAB got an amendment in the 1996 Telecommunications Act, denying renewal to a broadcaster faces an almost insurmountable burden. The Act imposes more limits on FCC actions that would cancel licenses or deny their renewal or transfer."
"Congress eliminated the former process of comparative renewal hearings, under which broadcasters would have to show that their offerings are the best among any others seeking to take over the license. The Act also generally requires that, before a license can be revoked, the FCC establish, on the basis of evidence, that the licensee has engaged in 'willful or repeated' violations."
The 1996 Telecommunications Act made it challenging for the FCC to deny broadcast license renewals. Legal experts indicate that the law favors broadcasters like Disney in their current license review situation. The Act removed comparative renewal hearings, requiring the FCC to prove 'willful or repeated' violations before revoking a license. The FCC has instructed Disney to submit early renewal applications for its TV stations, reflecting the ongoing complexities of broadcast regulation under the updated law.
Read at Ars Technica
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