US Senate panel sets hearing for Trump's FCC pick; ABC TV licenses in focus
DIS•The Senate Commerce Committee will hold a November 10 hearing on Danielle Thumann Severs, Trump's nominee for the FCC, which is reviewing the licenses of Walt Disney's eight ABC stations. Disney has sued to block the early review.
1. Nominee faces hearing
The Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing November 10 on Danielle Thumann Severs, a senior counsel to FCC Chair Brendan Carr, whom Trump nominated in August to fill one of two open seats. The FCC currently has two Republicans and one Democrat, Anna Gomez; some believe Trump might fire Gomez if Severs is confirmed.
2. ABC license review
In April, Carr ordered an early license review for all eight of Disney's ABC stations, whose renewals were not scheduled until October 2028. The FCC had not ordered an early review in more than 50 years. Disney has sued to block the review, and a US judge has not yet ruled. Carr said last week he had not decided whether to seek to revoke the licenses. Severs is likely to face questions about the FCC's oversight of Disney, wireless spectrum expansion and SpaceX's efforts to obtain spectrum.
