Lawmakers Urge Fcc To Update Outdated Ownership Regulations Adweek

Leo Migdal

-Dec 6, 2025, 6:59 AM

lawmakers urge fcc to update outdated ownership regulations adweek

A bipartisan group of 73 members of the U.S. House of Representatives led by Rep. Richard Hudson are calling on the FCC for immediate action to update outdated ownership regulations that, they say,, hurt local TV and radio stations. The lawmakers sent a letter to FCC chairman Brendan Carr asking for rule changes so local broadcasters can compete against what they say are “unregulated Big Tech platforms.” “Reforming outdated ownership rules is essential to ensuring that broadcasters remain viable, competitive, and capable of fulfilling their essential role in American democracy,” the letter 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.” “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.” “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.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC), who serves as the Chairman of the Communications and Technology Subcommittee on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, led over 50 of his colleagues in a bipartisan letter to Federal... The lawmakers wrote,"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... "Today, any one of the largest Big Tech platforms dwarfs the entire broadcast industry – yet they are held to no similar limitations on their reach," the lawmakers continued. "This imbalance places broadcasters at a severe disadvantage in competing for advertising dollars and audience engagement."

"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," the lawmakers concluded. Read the full letter here and an exclusive story in Politico here. Local broadcasters keep you connected and informed. Learn about how we serve Americans every day, the economic impact we have on local communities, read stories of broadcasters' public service and more. Local television and radio stations played an indispensable role in 2024 connecting communities to trusted journalism and verified information during an election year.

Take a look back at all that we accomplished together in 2024. Questions? NAB members can call our free Legal Hotline to learn more about legislation, filings and updates from Washington. 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 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.” The Federal Communications Commission’s latest update to media ownership rules has been stuck in neutral as a court case about the previous proceeding makes its way through the courts.

But as FCC Chair Brendan Carr rolls up his sleeves and dives into the quadrennial review, a bipartisan group of 73 members of Congress has some advice. That includes moving as quickly as possible. “Updating these rules is not just an urgent economic necessity, it is a public service imperative,” says the group of lawmakers. They believe the current limits on radio and television ownership are “outdated” and are working to “hinder” broadcasters nationwide. The group writes in a letter to Carr that at a time when newspapers are battling to survive, broadcasters’ local engagement is more important than ever as Americans trust their local news more than... “When broadcasters cannot combine or expand operations, they struggle to maintain sufficient newsroom staff and invest in journalism,” they say.

“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.” The push from Capitol Hill comes two weeks after the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments in a challenge to the FCC’s previous quadrennial decision. Several radio and TV companies, as well as the National Association of Broadcasters, argued FCC’s December 2023 decision that retained the Local Radio and Local Television Ownership Rules, and made minor rules governing the... The Eighth Circuit has not yet ruled, and the three-judge panel offered no clear direction when the case was heard on whether it will order the FCC to revise limits on station ownership as... 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. ADWEEK is the leading source of news and insight serving the brand marketing ecosystem. A bipartisan group of 73 members of the U.S. House of Representatives led by Rep.

Richard Hudson are calling on the FCC for immediate action to update outdated ownership regulations that, they say,, hurt local TV and radio stations. The lawmakers sent a letter to FCC chairman Brendan Carr asking for rule changes so local broadcasters can compete against what they say are “unregulated Big Tech platforms.” “Reforming outdated ownership rules is essential to ensuring that broadcasters remain viable, competitive, and capable of fulfilling their essential role in American democracy,” the letter 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.” “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.”

A bipartisan group of 73 members of the U.S. House of Representatives led by Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-09) have 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. A bipartisan group of 73 U.S. House members is appealing to Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr to “modernize outdated ownership rules that hinder broadcasters nationwide.” The letter says, in part, “While the FCC has made incremental adjustments over the... These regulations are a relic of an era when broadcasters were the only electronic media. Today, any one of the largest Big Tech platforms dwarfs the entire broadcast industry – yet they are held to no similar limitations on their reach. This imbalance places broadcasters at a severe disadvantage in competing for advertising dollars and audience engagement… We urge the FCC to act swiftly in eliminating antiquated ownership restrictions and to embrace a broadcast regulatory...

A bipartisan coalition of 22 U.S. Senators is urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to update its broadcast ownership regulations, citing an urgent need to align outdated rules with the realities of today’s digital media landscape. In a letter dated May 6 addressed to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, the lawmakers called on the agency to reform policies that they argue are preventing local broadcasters from remaining competitive in an industry... Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required. yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today. By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

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Lawmakers Urge Fcc To Update Outdated Ownership Regulations Adweek

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