FCC Moves To Delete Caps On Ownership

Within 24 hours of Olivia Trusty’s Senate confirmation to the FCC, Chairman Brendan Carr initiated a rulemaking to overhaul long-standing broadcaster ownership limits. 

On Wednesday, the FCC issued a notice to “refresh the record” on the national TV ownership cap, which limits a single company to reaching 39% of U.S. TV households. Established in 2004, this rule is now under review in MB Docket No. 17-318, dormant for over seven years.

Carr, in a separate statement, defended the FCC’s authority to revisit the cap, citing a 2016 agency determination affirming its power to modify or eliminate such rules. He dismissed opposing claims as politically inconsistent, noting, “The law hasn’t changed, even if the Commission’s makeup has.”

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This move aligns with Carr’s “Delete, Delete, Delete” deregulatory agenda, targeting media consolidation, content oversight, and ownership rules. While focused on TV, radio broadcasters anticipate similar scrutiny, given Carr’s prior support for easing AM/FM limits.

NAB President Curtis LeGeyt welcomed the action, stating, “NAB thanks Chairman Carr for modernizing outdated rules, enabling broadcasters to compete with Big Tech and better serve communities with trusted news.”

Trusty’s confirmation, a 53-45 Senate vote with only Sen. John Fetterman (D) crossing party lines, restores a Republican FCC majority under Trump. Carr praised Trusty’s experience, saying, “Her expertise will make her an effective Commissioner, advancing our agenda for Americans.” Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez also lauded Trusty’s policy and technical knowledge, eager to collaborate on consumer protection and innovation.

Speculation now surrounds the vacant Republican seat left by Nathan Simington. Gavin Wax, Simington’s 31-year-old former Chief of Staff with Trump-aligned ties, is reportedly a contender, signaling a potential ideological shift if confirmed. Meanwhile, no clear replacement has emerged for Democrat Geoffrey Starks, frustrating Democrats.

With the FCC’s next Open Meeting set for June 26, broadcasters brace for a bold deregulatory push, potentially the most aggressive in decades.