FCC to Vote on Rescinding 39% Broadcast Ownership Cap, Chair Carr Says

According to CNBC, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr said the agency will vote to rescind the 85-year-old rule limiting broadcasters to reaching no more than 39% of U.S. TV households, replacing it with a case-by-case approval process. Carr wrote in an essay that the new proposal would allow the FCC to approve deals exceeding the cap if they serve the public interest. Critics argue only Congress can lift the cap and warn of excessive concentration. In March, the FCC approved Nexstar's $3.54 billion acquisition of Tegna, which would expand Nexstar's reach to 80% of U.S. TV households under a waiver of the 39% rule. A judge has halted that deal pending a court challenge. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, said the cap reflects Congress' judgment on competition and diversity. The National Association of Broadcasters praised the move, saying ownership restrictions are outdated.