73 Members Of Congress Call On Fcc To Loosen Broadcast Ownership Rules

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Call: (866) 682-0276 Email: legal@nab.org Join our team of broadcast advocates. When legislative issues arise that could impact your station and career, we'll reach out and give you simple steps to contact your legislators. Sign Up Today 69 Republicans and 4 Democrats signed a letter saying “outdated ownership rules…hinder broadcasters nationwide” When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Here’s how it works. WASHINGTON—A large group of 73 members of the U.S. House of Representatives led by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC) has sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) calling for immediate action to update what the lawmakers are calling "outdated ownership regulations" that hurt local TV and radio stations. The House members backing the letter emphasized the need for rules that reflect today’s competitive media landscape, where local broadcasters face unprecedented challenges competing with less-regulated Big Tech platforms. The letter was signed by members of both parties but signatories were heavily skewed towards Republicans, with 69 Republican members of the House and only 4 Democratic Party members signing the letter.

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The FCC’s Chairman, Brendan Carr, has stated his desire for it, too. Now, no less than 73 Members of Congress have called on the Commission to modernize the nation’s broadcast ownership rules. The bipartisan members of the House of Representatives, led by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), expressed their desire for deregulation in a letter sent to Carr on Monday. They seek immediate action to update ownership regulations they label as outdated, and as such hurt local TV and radio stations. The NAB distributed a copy of the letter, in which the Members of Congress state that existing broadcast ownership regulations do not reflect today’s competitive media landscape.

“While the FCC has made incremental adjustments over the decades, the fundamental ownership restrictions have remained largely unchanged since the 1990s, imposing undue constraints on broadcasters’ ability to innovate and invest in local content,”... “At a time when newspapers are battling to survive, broadcasters’ local engagement is more important than ever. When broadcasters cannot combine or expand operations, they struggle to maintain sufficient newsroom staff and invest in journalism. This increasing lack of access to local information leaves communities vulnerable to misinformation from unverified sources on social media. Reforming outdated ownership rules is essential to ensuring that broadcasters remain viable, competitive, and capable of fulfilling their essential role in American democracy. By modernizing these regulations, the FCC can empower broadcasters to better serve their communities, promote local journalism, and compete in the modern media marketplace.

Updating these rules is not just an urgent economic necessity, it is a public service imperative.” NAB President/CEO Curtis LeGeyt said the organization was grateful to Rep. Hudson and his colleagues for the letter. “America’s local TV and radio stations are facing a radically transformed media landscape where global tech giants operate without restriction while local stations remain shackled by decades-old rules,” he said. “Quickly updating these rules is essential to preserving local journalism, strengthening public safety and ensuring that broadcasters can continue to serve the communities that rely on them every day.” WASHINGTON (TNND) — Seventy-three members of Congress endorsed a letter sent to Commissioner Brendan Carr of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that urges the official to change ownership rules for broadcasters.

The lawmakers, which include 70 Republicans and three Democrats, asked Carr to eliminate what they called antiquated ownership restrictions and to “embrace a broadcast regulatory framework that reflects the realities of today’s dynamic media... The FCC sets limits on the number of television and radio broadcast stations an entity can own. They urge the FCC to act swiftly in eliminating antiquated ownership restrictions and to embrace a broadcast regulatory framework that reflects the realities of today's dynamic media ecosystem. Washington, D.C. – A bipartisan group of 73 members of the U.S. House of Representatives led by Rep.

Richard Hudson (NC-09) today sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) calling for immediate action to update outdated ownership regulations that hurt local TV and radio stations. The lawmakers emphasized the need for rules that reflect today’s competitive media landscape, where local broadcasters face unprecedented challenges competing with unregulated Big Tech platforms. “America’s local TV and radio stations are facing a radically transformed media landscape where global tech giants operate without restriction while local stations remain shackled by decades-old rules,” said NAB President and CEO Curtis... “NAB is grateful to Rep. Hudson and his bipartisan colleagues for urging the FCC to bring its ownership regulations into the modern era. Quickly updating these rules is essential to preserving local journalism, strengthening public safety and ensuring that broadcasters can continue to serve the communities that rely on them every day.”

“Reforming outdated ownership rules is essential to ensuring that broadcasters remain viable, competitive, and capable of fulfilling their essential role in American democracy. By modernizing these regulations, the FCC can empower broadcasters to better serve their communities, promote local journalism, and compete in the modern media marketplace. Updating these rules is not just an urgent economic necessity, it is a public service imperative. “We urge the FCC to act swiftly in eliminating antiquated ownership restrictions and to embrace a broadcast regulatory framework that reflects the realities of today’s dynamic media ecosystem.” Click here to read the letter in its entirety. Seventy-three members of the U.S.

House of Representatives are urging the Federal Communications Commission to modernize broadcast ownership regulations, describing the current rules as outdated and harmful to local television and radio broadcasters. In a letter led by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), the bipartisan group of lawmakers called on FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to initiate immediate regulatory reform. The National Association of Broadcasters distributed the letter on Monday. The legislators argued that ownership limits, which originated in the 1940s and have seen minimal change since the 1990s, no longer reflect the realities of the current media environment. “While the FCC has made incremental adjustments over the decades, the fundamental ownership restrictions have remained largely unchanged,” the letter stated.

According to the lawmakers, the rules hinder local broadcasters’ ability to expand, innovate, and invest in journalism. “When broadcasters cannot combine or expand operations, they struggle to maintain sufficient newsroom staff and invest in journalism,” they wrote. “This increasing lack of access to local information leaves communities vulnerable to misinformation from unverified sources on social media.” In a strong bipartisan effort, 73 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, led by Representative Richard Hudson (NC-09), have formally requested the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to revise the longstanding broadcast ownership regulations, which they argue significantly disadvantage local radio and TV stations. The group's initiative highlights the stark disparities faced by traditional broadcasters in comparison to largely unregulated Big Tech companies.

"America's local TV and radio stations are facing a radically transformed media landscape where global tech giants operate without restriction while local stations remain shackled by decades-old rules," explained NAB President and CEO Curtis... He added, "NAB is grateful to Rep. Hudson and his bipartisan colleagues for urging the FCC to bring its ownership regulations into the modern era. Quickly updating these rules is essential to preserving local journalism, strengthening public safety and ensuring that broadcasters can continue to serve the communities that rely on them every day." The letter sent to the FCC stresses the critical need for regulatory modernization to allow broadcasters to remain competitive and viable in the current media environment. According to the letter, "Reforming outdated ownership rules is essential to ensuring that broadcasters remain viable, competitive, and capable of fulfilling their essential role in American democracy.

By modernizing these regulations, the FCC can empower broadcasters to better serve their communities, promote local journalism, and compete in the modern media marketplace. Updating these rules is not just an urgent economic necessity, it is a public service imperative." The move is part of the NAB's broader "Modernize the Rules" campaign which seeks an overhaul of broadcast ownership regulations that currently limit broadcasters' ability to grow, invest in local journalism, and compete for... This campaign underscores the significant role local stations play in public safety and as trusted sources of information, advocating for a level playing field that allows them to effectively compete with tech giants. The coalition of lawmakers, spanning a wide political spectrum, underscores the bipartisan acknowledgment of the necessity for regulatory updates to support the crucial role of broadcasters in fostering civic engagement, government accountability, and public... The group's appeal to the FCC is a clear call for swift action to address regulatory imbalances and ensure the sustainability of local broadcasting in the digital age.

NAB: TV station owners like Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Inc. looking to the M&A market to bulk up against Big Tech and fund newsrooms got a boost yesterday from House Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Rich Hudson (R-N.C.). Hudson organized a letter signed by 73 House members calling on the FCC to loosen broadcast ownership restrictions, which NAB is already fighting in federal court. “Reforming outdated ownership rules is essential to ensuring that broadcasters remain viable, competitive, and capable of fulfilling their essential role in American democracy,” the March 28 letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said. “By modernizing these regulations, the FCC can empower broadcasters to better serve their communities, promote local journalism, and compete in the modern media marketplace.

Updating these rules is not just an urgent economic necessity, it is a public service imperative.” The letter was bipartisan, including House Democrats Marcy Kaptur (Ohio) Henry Cuellar (Texas), Jared Golden (Maine) and Julie... TV station owners want to be able to reach more viewers nationally and merge within local markets. Hudson called for broadcast deregulation at the Free State Foundation’s 17th Annual Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. on March 25. At the FCC, the agency is deadlock 2-2 between Republicans and Democrats. Carr needs to await the confirmation of Republican nominee Olivia Trusty to have a majority before the planned departure of FCC Democratic Commission FCC Commissioner Geoffrey Starks this spring.

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