The Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to end the national cap on broadcast ownership in favour of case-by-case review, officially ending the era of set broadcast ownership limits. The decision, driven by FCC chairman Brendan Carr, removes long-standing limits that restricted how many TV stations a single entity could own nationally and in a market.
π The Backstory
The broadcast ownership rule had been a cornerstone of US media regulation, designed to preserve localism and diversity in broadcasting. Chairman Carr, who has pursued a deregulatory 'war on the First Amendment' agenda, had long argued the limits were outdated. The vote follows a series of related consolidation-friendly moves at the FCC.
π― Why It Matters
Ending the ownership cap is expected to spur a wave of broadcast station consolidation as major groups merge, reshaping the television industry and potentially reducing the number of independent local stations. It is a significant deregulatory milestone that raises concerns about media concentration, local news coverage and diversity of voices across the US.
The Federal Communications Commission voted on Thursday to end the national cap on broadcast ownership in favour of case-by-case review, officially ending the era of set broadcast ownership limits. The decision, driven by FCC chairman Brendan Carr, removes long-standing limits that restricted how many TV stations a single entity could own nationally and in a market.
The broadcast ownership rule had been a cornerstone of US media regulation, designed to preserve localism and diversity in broadcasting. Chairman Carr, who has pursued a deregulatory 'war on the First Amendment' agenda, had long argued the limits were outdated. The vote follows a series of related consolidation-friendly moves at the FCC.
Ending the ownership cap is expected to spur a wave of broadcast station consolidation as major groups merge, reshaping the television industry and potentially reducing the number of independent local stations. It is a significant deregulatory milestone that raises concerns about media concentration, local news coverage and diversity of voices across the US.