Can Trump Take ABC Off Air? How US Broadcast Licenses Work

President Donald Trump’s administration has repeatedly threatened to use its power over broadcast TV licenses to police disfavored speech. Most recently, Trump renewed his call for the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to revoke ABC’s station licenses after a reporter for the network asked about his handling of files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

ABC entered FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s crosshairs in September, when Carr threatened to revoke the licenses of stations that air comedian Jimmy Kimmel’s show.

WATCH: President Trump says ABC should lose its station licenses.

Asset: 10073937SOT: Trump on ABC13:05:14 I think the license should be taken away from ABC, because your news is so fake and it’s so wrong, and we have a great Commissioner, chairman, who should look at that. Because I think when you come i and when you’re 97% negative to Trump, and then Trump wins the election in a landslide, that means, obviously your news is not credible, and you’re not credible as a reporter. 13:05:39

Here’s how broadcast licensing works in the US and why it’s so rare for the government to revoke ...