Local broadcasters scored a major legal win last week as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit overturned the FCC’s ban on television stations owning more than one of the top-four-rated outlets in a market. The court found the rule was based on outdated and unsupported assumptions. Though the ruling focused on TV, it opens the door for broader reform of media ownership limits, including those affecting local radio.
For more than 20 years, the NAB and broadcasters have urged the FCC to modernize ownership rules that were designed for a pre-digital era. NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt called the court decision a turning point, affirming the FCC’s legal obligation to revise its rules to reflect the realities of today’s media environment.
FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr welcomed the ruling, saying it underscores the need to prioritize deregulation in the ongoing 2022 Quadrennial Review. He called it a “break glass moment” for the agency and said empowering local broadcasters will now take precedence.
Broadcasters argue that radio stations remain burdened by outdated ownership restrictions, even as they compete with digital giants, podcasts, and streaming services that face none of the same limits. The current rules, written decades ago, leave local radio at a disadvantage in a transformed media landscape.
LeGeyt stressed that local stations are essential public service providers, especially in rural and underserved areas where they deliver trusted news, emergency alerts, and community connection. He said the FCC’s inaction has been harmful, and that change is both overdue and necessary.
The NAB plans to continue its advocacy efforts across legal, regulatory, and legislative fronts. LeGeyt urged broadcasters and listeners to stay engaged, praising the thousands of stations airing advocacy spots and the grassroots outreach that has generated significant support in Congress.
This decision, he said, validates the campaign for change and gives momentum to the push for a more equitable regulatory structure that allows broadcasters to grow, invest in local journalism, and better serve their communities.