Everett Padgett
Address
New Castle, Indiana 47362-9719
email
6/23/2026
Federal Communications Commission 45 L Street NE Washington, DC 20554
SUBJECT: Opposition to ABC/Disney Request for "Bona Fide News" Exemption
Dear Commissioners of the FCC,
I am writing to formally register my strong opposition to the recent request by ABC and its parent company, The Walt Disney Company, to be granted exemptions or recognized as a "bona fide news" entity under the parameters of the Communications Act (including exemptions related to equal time rules under Section 315).
As a citizen concerned with the integrity of our media and democratic processes, I urge the Commission to deny this request. Granting such an exemption to a massive multinational entertainment conglomerate fundamentally contradicts the spirit of the rule and harms the public interest for several reasons:
Inherent Conflicts of Interest: The Walt Disney Company is primarily an entertainment and corporate licensing conglomerate. Its vast portfolio spans theme parks, merchandising, and film studios. Allowing a corporate entity with such massive, vested legislative and economic interests to operate under a "bona fide news" exemption creates an undeniable conflict of interest. Their broadcasts are highly susceptible to corporate directives rather than objective, independent journalism.
Subversion of Equal Time Rules: The bona fide news exemption was designed by Congress to protect genuine, on-the-spot reporting and legitimate news interviews from being stifled by equal-time requirements. It was not intended to be a loophole for corporate media giants to heavily promote favored political candidates or viewpoints while denying opposing voices fair access to the public airwaves.
Harm to the Public Interest: The FCC has a statutory obligation to ensure that broadcast licensees operate in the "public interest, convenience, and necessity." A healthy democracy requires a diverse, objective, and fair media landscape. Blurring the line between highly produced corporate entertainment and genuine news sets a dangerous precedent that allows conglomerates to shape political realities without accountability.
ABC/Disney’s current operational model and integration of news with entertainment programming do not meet the rigorous, independent standards that should be required to qualify for this special regulatory privilege. True journalism serves the public, not shareholders and corporate synergy.
I respectfully request that the Commission prioritize the American public's right to fair, unbiased, and equal-opportunity broadcasting. Please deny ABC/Disney’s request for bona fide news exemptions.
Thank you for your time, attention, and service to the public interest.
Respectfully submitted,
Everett M Padgett