Opposition mounts to FCC plans for relaxing or repealing local radio ownership limits, as several advocacy groups warn that changes would accelerate industry consolidation, harm minority ownership, and reduce competition, localism, and viewpoint diversity.
The National Association of Black Owned Broadcasters (NABOB) strongly opposes any relaxation or repeal, arguing that current rules are the only barrier preventing further concentration of ownership.
NABOB highlights a sharp decline in Black broadcast ownership since 1995, driven by past deregulation, with Black Americans owning just 2% of full-power FM stations and 4% of AM stations in 2023—despite comprising 13.7% of the U.S. population. The group stresses that most Black-owned broadcasters operate in radio, and further consolidation would reduce opportunities for minorities to enter or grow in the industry.
The musicFIRST Coalition echoes these concerns, maintaining that current FM ownership caps are necessary to safeguard competition, localism, and viewpoint diversity. The group takes no position on AM limits but opposes broader changes that could harm independent operators.
In contrast, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and many radio broadcasters support full repeal of local ownership limits, arguing that outdated rules hinder competition with streaming and digital platforms. The FCC is conducting its quadrennial review of these rules, with comments recently filed.