FCC Kills TV Ownership Cap, Claiming Authority Over Limit Set By Congress
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: The Federal Communications Commission voted 2-1 today to eliminate the National Television Ownership Rule, claiming authority to repeal a limit that was set by Congress over 20 years ago. The rule prohibits any single broadcast station owner from reaching more than 39 percent of all TV households in the US. Under Chairman Brendan Carr, the…
The Federal Communications Commission has voted to eliminate a rule limiting how much television broadcasting a single company can own nationwide. Chairman Brendan Carr claims this change grants the FCC authority to evaluate proposed mergers case-by-case, empowering the agency to approve deals that serve the public interest while rejecting those that do not. Carr argues this will allow broadcasters to compete more effectively against streaming services, which lack similar limits.
Critics argue the FCC lacks this authority, as Congress deliberately set the 39 percent cap and removed it from FCC review process. Former FCC Commissioner Mike O'Reilly and former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay both maintain Congress cannot change the cap. Senate Commerce Chair Ted Cruz expresses skepticism that a change can occur without an act of Congress.
While Carr claims the change will help local broadcasters invest in local news, Democrats argue it may actually hurt local broadcasters and communities. They warn consolidation of stations into large national companies may not provide the local input and public-safety functions communities rely on, trading a squeeze from Big Tech for a squeeze from Big Media.
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