The FCC today dismissed the United Church of Christ's 2004 petitions to deny the license renewals of the CBS and NBC O&Os in Miami—WFOR and WTVJ, respectively—because the CBS and NBC networks refused to air a UCC anti-discrimination spot.

The spot, according to UCC, was aimed at helping “equip local church leaders to welcome newcomers to worship” and to “move the national culture from one of division to one of inclusion.”

In dismissing the petition, the FCC said it cannot deny the license renewal of a station for decisions made by its network or by other stations.

WFOR and WTVJ may have decided to air the spot if it had the opportunity, the FCC said.

In any event, “Congress…has expressly limited the scope of the license renewal inquiry to matters occurring at the particular station for which license renewal is sought,” the FCC said.