A new poll commissioned by the National Association of Broadcasters indicates that a majority of registered voters believe current federal restrictions on broadcast ownership are unfair. The survey, conducted by the firm Fabrizio Ward, found that 58 percent of respondents view the 39 percent national audience reach cap for television station groups as inequitable, given that tech platforms and streaming services face no such limits.
The findings are part of a broader push by the trade group to encourage lawmakers and the FCC to modernize ownership rules, a campaign often referred to as “Delete, Delete, Delete.” According to the data, 42 percent of voters stated they would be more likely to support a congressional candidate who advocates for allowing local broadcasters to compete more freely for advertising dollars. The association argues that these restrictions prevent local stations from achieving the scale necessary to sustain high-quality local journalism and emergency services.