The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has repealed the national broadcast ownership rule, which previously barred a single company from reaching more than 39% of US TV households over the public airwaves. This decision is expected to lead to increased media consolidation, with large station group owners like Sinclair potentially buying up more TV stations.

Background

The national broadcast ownership rule has been in place for decades, with the goal of promoting localism, viewpoint diversity, and competition in the media landscape. However, supporters of the repeal argue that the rule is outdated in the era of Big Tech and that it hampers the ability of local broadcasters to compete.

FCC chair Brendan Carr stated that the rule will be replaced by a “case-by-case review” process, giving him more power over deals involving local TV stations across the country. Carr’s critics argue that this move is designed to benefit media companies aligned with President Donald Trump and the Republican Party, rather than supporting the local TV ecosystem.

Reaction and Next Steps

Supporters of the cap have vowed to challenge the FCC’s action in court, arguing that only Congress has the authority to make such a change. The repeal passed 2-1, with Carr and fellow Republican commissioner Olivia Trusty voting yes and the commission’s sole Democrat, Anna Gomez, voting no.

Gomez defended the long-established cap as a “structural safeguard to preserve localism, viewpoint diversity, and competition.” She also expressed concerns that the repeal will lead to further consolidation and a loss of local control over TV stations.

Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.