FCC Chairman Brendan Carr is signaling strong momentum toward modernizing—or potentially rolling back—outdated broadcast ownership limits for radio and TV stations, framing it as a key "win" for empowering local broadcasters in a competitive media landscape dominated by streaming giants.
Carr has repeatedly highlighted deregulation as a 2025 priority and achievement. In his year-end summary of FCC "wins" released in late December 2025, he emphasized actions to "empower local broadcasters" through rule eliminations, streamlined licensing, and support for localism—positioning ownership reform as essential for stations to invest, innovate, and compete against unregulated digital platforms like Spotify, YouTube, and podcasts.
The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has been a vocal advocate, arguing that current caps—unchanged in many respects since the early 2000s—fail to account for massive shifts in audience and advertising toward streaming services. NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt has praised Carr's leadership, noting in statements throughout 2025 that modernizing these rules would "level the playing field" and help local radio and TV stations sustain trusted news, sports, and community service.
A pivotal moment came this month at the House Energy and Commerce Committee oversight hearing (following a December 2025 Senate Commerce Committee session), where ownership modernization featured prominently.
Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY) backed Carr's deregulatory efforts, stressing the need to remove legacy burdens for investment and resilience. Carr defended reducing regulatory hurdles, including ownership caps, as vital for competition and emergency communications. NAB echoed this during the hearing, expressing gratitude for congressional support in urging the FCC forward.
Critics, including Democratic commissioners and some lawmakers, have raised concerns about potential impacts on media diversity, localism, and competition, but the trajectory under Carr points to significant changes ahead to preserve the viability of local stations amid digital disruption.