FCC votes to lift 39% cap on local TV station ownership

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted along party lines on Thursday to rescind the 39 percent cap on local broadcast station ownership, a long-standing safeguard against the concentration of media ownership in the United States, as reported by Al Jazeera and The Guardian — World.

The 2-1 decision eliminates a rule that prevented any single company from owning stations reaching more than 39 percent of US television households. The FCC will now consider television company mergers on a case-by-case basis, according to Al Jazeera.

Coverage comparison

Both Al Jazeera and The Guardian — World reported the vote as a significant shift in media regulation, though their emphasis differed. Al Jazeera framed the decision as one that "could help spark industry consolidation," while The Guardian — World described it as "a historic vote" that throws out a key check against television industry consolidation. Both outlets noted that the move is expected to benefit large media conglomerates, with The Guardian — World specifically naming conservative-leaning companies such as Sinclair Broadcast Group and Nexstar as likely beneficiaries.

Key claims

  • The FCC voted to rescind the 39 percent cap on local broadcast station ownership, which was a safeguard against excessive concentration of media ownership, as reported by both Al Jazeera and The Guardian — World.
  • The FCC will now consider television company mergers on a case-by-case basis, a detail reported by Al Jazeera.
  • FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the move is about helping local broadcasters survive, pointing to the sharp decline in local newspapers, according to both outlets.
  • The decision was criticized by the commission's sole Democrat, Anna Gomez, and media advocacy groups, both Al Jazeera and The Guardian — World reported.
  • The $6.2bn merger of mega-broadcasters Nexstar and Tegna is currently on hold due to a temporary injunction, as reported by The Guardian — World.
  • The FCC has limited ownership of local broadcast stations since 1941 and most recently raised the cap to 39 percent in 2004, according to Al Jazeera.
  • Anna Gomez said the decision is unlawful and argued only the US Congress can lift the cap, as reported by both outlets.
  • Clayton Weimers, executive director at Reporters Without Borders North America, said the FCC has abandoned one of the last significant safeguards against excessive concentration of media ownership in the US, according to The Guardian — World.

Perspectives

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr: Carr argued that repealing the cap would benefit local broadcasters, stating that it is "the right policy answer [if] you care about the future of trusted local news." He said the FCC had contributed to the decline of local newspapers by keeping outdated restrictions, and that lifting the cap would "restore balance to the broadcast airwaves" and provide essential relief for local broadcasters against the leverage of national programmers, as quoted by The Guardian — World.

Commissioner Anna Gomez: Gomez, the lone Democrat on the FCC, voted against the measure, calling it "unlawful on its face" and "a profound departure from both statutory boundaries and longstanding precedent," as reported by The Guardian — World. She argued that only the US Congress can lift the cap, according to both Al Jazeera and The Guardian — World.

Media advocacy groups: Critics, including media advocacy groups and Reporters Without Borders North America, said the move will lead to excessive market power among station owners and harm local journalism. Clayton Weimers stated that the FCC "abandoned one of the last significant safeguards against excessive concentration of media ownership in the US," as reported by The Guardian — World.