While Armstrong is working to prove his case of being a responsible licensee, the FCC claims to be sticking to protocol.

“The Commission has a duty to ensure that everyone holding a license to use the public airwaves does so in the public interest,” Paloma Perez, the FCC press secretary, wrote. “It is longstanding practice that any licensee with a felony conviction be placed into hearing in order to examine whether the licensee has the requisite character qualifications to remain a trustee of the public airwaves.”

She continued, “In order to evaluate these factors, and to provide due process to the licensee, any licensee with a felony conviction is placed into hearing, usually at the time of the licensee’s renewal application.”