Lawmakers Urge FCC Quick Action On Ownership Regs

A bipartisan group of 22 U.S. Senators, led by Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), has sent a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, urging the agency to modernize outdated broadcast ownership regulations. 

The senators argued that these rules, largely unchanged since the 1990s and rooted in policies from the 1940s, fail to reflect the current media landscape, where local broadcasters compete not only with each other but also with unregulated Big Tech giants like Google, Facebook, and Amazon. The letter emphasized that the “fast-evolving media marketplace” has rendered the FCC’s restrictions—such as the national audience reach cap, local television ownership limits, and local radio station sub-caps—obsolete, hindering broadcasters’ ability to invest in journalism, retain newsroom staff, and compete for audience and advertising revenue.

The senators called for swift action to level the playing field, specifically requesting the repeal of the national audience reach cap (which limits a broadcaster’s reach to 39% of U.S. TV households), updates to local TV ownership limits, and modernization of local radio sub-caps (e.g., allowing up to eight radio stations in markets with 45 or more stations, with no more than five in the same service, AM or FM). 

Brendan Carr

They argued that these changes would strengthen local journalism, enhance public interest, and empower broadcasters to fulfill their role in American democracy. The letter echoed Carr’s own characterization of the situation as a “break glass moment” for local media, aligning with his signals to deregulate ownership rules.

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), through President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt, praised the senators’ leadership, noting that outdated rules “shackle” local stations while trillion-dollar tech companies face no similar restrictions. The NAB’s “Modernize the Rules” campaign further supports this push, emphasizing the need for broadcasters to grow and invest in local content to remain competitive.

This letter follows a related effort on March 31, 2025, when a bipartisan group of 73 U.S. House members, led by Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-09), also urged the FCC to update these regulations, highlighting the same competitive disadvantages and public service imperatives. The May 6 Senate letter builds on this momentum, reflecting growing bipartisan concern about the viability of local broadcasters in a digital age.