The 2-1 party-line vote marks the first time the rule has been modified in two decades. The FCC will now review transactions exceeding the 39 percent cap on a case-by-case basis to determine if they serve the public interest.
Chairman Brendan Carr framed the change as a necessary step to help local broadcasters compete with digital platforms and streaming services. Commissioner Anna Gomez dissented, arguing the decision violates the law and exceeds the agency’s authority. She said, “It invites further consolidation at a time when consolidation has consistently resulted in newsroom mergers, content duplication, fewer independent voices and higher retransmission consent fees passed directly to consumers.” Free Press immediately announced plans to sue, claiming only Congress can alter the limits.
While the vote applies exclusively to television, it establishes a significant deregulation precedent for commercial radio operators. Radio broadcasting groups have actively lobbied the FCC to lift local radio ownership limits as part of the quadrennial review. The shift toward a case-by-case evaluation model rather than a strict percentage cap could provide a roadmap for future radio sub-cap relief and local station consolidation.
Source: FCC Order