NAB Challenges FCC's Broadcast Ownership Restrictions

Yesterday, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) filed its initial brief in its challenge to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) local radio and television ownership restrictions.

In a statement, NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt commented:  "It is long past time for the FCC to modernize its broadcast ownership rules; these are relics from a bygone era, created before the internet, smartphones, social media and streaming. NAB's brief succinctly demonstrates to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit that the FCC has failed to justify that these rules remain necessary to serve the public in light of the immense competition broadcasters face in today's media marketplace."

According to an NAB Filing, The Local Television and Radio Rules retain and even tighten decades-old restrictions  on which—and how many—television and radio stations broadcasters may own in  a particular geographic market. The rules are premised on the notion that  broadcasters could exert disproportionate influence by shaping news and entertainment options. But that idea is a relic from a bygone era—before the emergence of the Internet, smart phones, social media, and streaming.

In reality,  the NAB maintains broadcasters today struggle to keep pace with rapidly proliferating audio and video  platforms that are steadily taking audience share and advertising dollars. Instead of  making it harder for broadcasters to compete, the Commission should have  modernized its outdated rules because they are no longer justified.