The FCC launched a new notice of proposed rulemaking to advance the long-stalled 2022 Quadrennial Review, aiming squarely at whether local radio ownership limits still make sense in a market reshaped by streaming, social media, and digital ad giants. Chairman Brendan Carr framed the approach as the “Gretzky test,” urging the agency to skate to where the media puck is going rather than where it has been. Staff said the review will examine product definitions, market tiers, and station caps.
Commissioner Anna Gomez linked the proceeding to recent clashes over political pressure on broadcasters. She warned that threats to revoke licenses pose an “existential risk” to outlets that cannot operate without them, and argued that consolidation can reduce independent voices even as local broadcasters remain the backbone of civic information.
The open meeting was briefly disrupted by protesters chanting “fire Carr, the censorship czar” before business resumed. Carr emphasized the Commission’s statutory duty to revisit ownership rules under the Telecommunications Act, noting rapid changes driven by technology and consumer behavior. He said the goal is rules that reflect today’s competition and encourage investment in local news and information.
Commissioners approved the item unanimously. Industry reaction was broadly positive. NAB president Curtis LeGeyt praised the move as a long-overdue step toward modernizing caps that he says restrain investment and innovation. Beasley Media Group chief executive Caroline Beasley called it a defining moment to keep local radio’s public-service mission viable and to permit common-sense reforms that enhance competitiveness. Cumulus Media president Mary Berner said timely updates would let operators invest more locally, diversify formats, and compete effectively across a fast-evolving audio marketplace.
The rulemaking now heads into a comment cycle that will test how far the commission is willing to move ownership limits to meet the Gretzky standard while balancing concerns about consolidation and localism.