Changes Needed in Broadcast Ownership Regulations
When Facebook first came onto the scene, Congress and the FCC set a 39 percent cap on how many households television broadcasters could reach. This happened before platforms like Twitter, Instagram, Spotify, and YouTube emerged. Back then, there were no iPhones or streaming services available. At that time, accessing information was much more limited compared to now.
Fast forward twenty years, and there’s a significant shift. It’s clear that the government shouldn’t keep restricting the reach of social media platforms. Today, digital platforms are everywhere, algorithms dictate our content, and companies are heavily investing in diverse content. Governments must ensure that all sectors of the communications industry, especially those dedicated to local communities, can compete effectively in the marketplace.
It’s time to remove this outdated rule and enable broadcasters to be more competitive in an increasingly complex information landscape.
The FCC shouldn’t just stop there. They should also eliminate similar outdated restrictions on radio station ownership, lift the dual-network ban that prevents American broadcast networks from consolidating, and get rid of caps on local television ownership.
These old regulations restrict American media companies, hindering their growth and ability to compete with dominant global tech platforms. Meanwhile, those platforms can scale and achieve near-total audience saturation without any regulation.
While these rules may have once aimed to protect the diversity of local news, they no longer fit today’s rapidly evolving media landscape, where streaming dominates discussions about entertainment. The result is an uneven playing field that hampers local broadcast stations, which are vital for emergency alerts, local news, and other essential services.
As former leaders of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, we are confident that the committee has the authority to tackle these challenges. The FCC has the regulatory power to help our media organizations better serve the American public, as outlined in the Communications Act of 1934.
Since 2000, Congressional Democrats and their appointees have consistently resisted efforts to deregulate and make local broadcasters more competitive. They’ve fought against increases or removals of the 39% ownership limit and have opposed adjustments that would provide a more accurate assessment of broadcasters’ reach.
Every attempt to block reform has been presented as a defense of diversity and local journalism. Ironically, these very blockages jeopardize both. By continuing to restrict broadcasters as if it’s still 2004, policymakers are undermining their ability to reinvest in local news and adapt to the current video market.
There’s reason for optimism, though. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has long pushed for regulatory reform and acknowledges the need for progress. There’s a current review of these limitations, which aligns with broader deregulatory strategies aimed at modernizing our media landscape.
In 2025, the federal government needs to allow media companies to thrive in a global, digitally integrated world that regulators couldn’t have envisioned in 2004. The FCC must further its efforts to modernize these restrictive rules to truly protect the public interest. Otherwise, unnecessary regulations will continue to constrain one of America’s most trusted sources of information.
