FCC Chairman Faces Senate Committee Amid Local News Crisis

When FCC Chairman Brendan Carr testifies before the Senate Commerce Committee on December 17, it’s likely that Democrats will concentrate on predictions. They might argue that Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension for derogatory remarks about Charlie Kirk somehow poses a risk to free speech. This comes after years of purportedly collaborating with big tech to suppress conservative voices.

However, the committee should really be addressing a pressing issue that affects everyone: the economic challenges confronting local news across the United States. The regulations that govern local television are not only outdated but have also created an environment that favors liberal media and large tech companies, while sidelining conservative and local news outlets that many people depend on.

These rules were crafted in a different era—back in the 1990s. Google hadn’t been invented yet, smartphones were still a dream, and the streaming world, as we know it, was unimaginable. Local TV and radio stations, which many consider trustworthy sources of news, are still operating under regulations that feel ancient. In the meantime, massive tech companies are free from the constraints that local broadcasters face, allowing them to spread their messages without restrictions.

For example, Google-owned YouTube can push its algorithm-driven content to vast audiences without any federal oversight. On the other hand, networks like CNN and MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) reach nearly every household without the same caps that local broadcasters face.

Only local stations that align with community values, including those in conservative regions, are stuck with rules that haven’t changed in thirty years. This situation means they have less capacity to compete, create tailored content, and make programming choices, like choosing not to air shows such as Jimmy Kimmel. Washington’s regulations have led to a media landscape that is heavily biased, and average Americans are feeling the impact.

Republican members of the Senate Commerce Committee have expressed their concerns to Mr. Carr. They noted that the current broadcasting regulations originated “in the 1940s” and have remained static since the 1990s. Nearly eighty lawmakers have cautioned that these outdated rules put local broadcasters at a “significant disadvantage” compared to their unregulated global competitors.

This unfavorable situation is evident nationwide. Local newspapers are closing at an alarming rate, and some entire counties no longer have reporters. As local journalism dwindles, unregulated tech companies and national outlets will take over, often promoting left-leaning perspectives that do not represent conservative or rural viewpoints. The existing Washington rules do not promote a diversity of opinions but rather strengthen a system that allows left-leaning coastal platforms to thrive while displacing local voices.

It’s a reality that many in Washington may be reluctant to acknowledge: failing to update broadcasting ownership regulations has undermined local journalism far more than any technological change in the past few decades. As a result, newsrooms have shrunk, coverage has diminished, and misinformation has filled the gaps, often spreading through foreign entities and technology platforms free from substantial limits.

Mr. Carr views this as a pivotal moment for local broadcasters. If current regulations persist, local TV stations could face a fate similar to that of local newspapers. This isn’t just speculation; it’s a likely outcome of rules that prevent them from competing fairly.

But change is possible.

Mr. Carr should rapidly work to eliminate archaic limits on national broadcast reach and modernize local ownership regulations. A prompt commitment would demonstrate that America’s information ecosystem deserves the same innovative approach that Washington applies to other emerging technologies like broadband and artificial intelligence.

The underlying principle is straightforward. If global tech platforms can connect with all Americans without restrictions, local stations that communities rely on shouldn’t be shackled by rules that date back to an era before email was common or cell phones were anything but basic.

Local broadcast stations are fundamentally vital for community information, serving as a defense against biased journalism funded by wealthy individuals and outside interests.

Yet, they won’t be able to fulfill this role if Washington continues to hold them back with outdated regulations. It’s not only unreasonable, but it’s also a danger. The time to change course is now.