The Media and Democracy Project has mobilized over 25,000 individuals from all fifty states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico to call for a Federal Communications Commission hearing regarding the broadcast license renewal of FOX Corporation-owned television station FOX 29 Philadelphia. This unprecedented public engagement centers on a 611-page Petition to Deny that alleges serious character and rule violations by the station's parent corporation related to spreading misinformation during and after the 2020 presidential election.
The petition documents what it describes as intentional distortion of news allegedly authorized at FOX's highest corporate levels, arguing this represents a severe breach of FCC policy on licensee character qualifications. The filing specifically cites the Dominion v. FOX court decision that found the actions of Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch "shock the conscience," connecting this media conduct to both the undermining of election integrity and the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. This linkage between broadcast content and public safety demonstrates the far-reaching consequences of license decisions.
Former FOX Broadcasting executive Preston Padden emphasized the unprecedented nature of the situation, stating, "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." The petition has gained bipartisan support from former FCC officials, media veterans, and First Amendment scholars, highlighting broad concern about media integrity and public trust.
In October 2023, MAD filed a motion requesting the FCC compel FOX to produce key nonpublic discovery from its various lawsuits to ensure transparency in the renewal process. However, nine months have passed with limited FCC action beyond opening the petition for public comment. The substantial public response reflects growing citizen concern about media responsibility in maintaining democratic integrity, with petitioners asserting that "owning a broadcast station is more than a business—it is a public trust."
This case represents a critical juncture in media regulation that could establish important precedents for evaluating broadcast licenses when character and public trust questions arise. The outcome may influence future license decisions and broader debates about truth in reporting and democratic safeguards, challenging the FCC to consider public interest implications beyond technical compliance. As Milo Vassallo, executive director of MAD, noted regarding the rare public engagement, this proceeding tests how regulatory bodies address media accountability in an era where misinformation has demonstrated tangible consequences for democratic institutions.
