• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, June 23, 2008

ABC late Friday said it filed a brief in federal court as it attempts to reverse an FCC decision in which it paid a fine for accusations that a 2003 episode of "NYPD Blue" violated the agency's indecency rules.

In February, ABC paid the FCC $1.2 million in fines leveled against two ABC owned-and-operated stations and 43 affiliates. ABC said it did so to give it the right to appeal.

The brief was filed in the federal court of appeals in New York on Friday. ABC said it believes the FCC order was partly a First Amendment violation.

The network was joined by the ABC affiliates board, NBC and Fox together, and CBS in all filing briefs opposing the "NYPD Blue" decision.