FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the agency will seek to repeal the National Television Ownership Rule that limits a single broadcast owner to 39 % of U.S. TV households. In an op‑ed published on Breitbart, Carr said the rule will be replaced by a case‑by‑case review of each proposed merger.
The rule, originally enacted by Congress to curb concentration of broadcast ownership, was already bent when the Carr‑led FCC granted a waiver in March allowing Nexstar Media Group to acquire Tegna, pushing Nexstar’s reach past the 50 % mark. The commission maintains that Congress gave it authority to modify or waive the cap, but legal scholars argue only Congress can fully repeal it.
A repeal would almost certainly spark court battles over the FCC’s asserted authority. Critics warn the new discretionary approach could advantage news companies that have provided favorable coverage of President Trump, as the agency would be able to select which station groups may exceed the former limit. The FCC is slated to vote on the change soon, and industry observers will be watching for both the decision and any ensuing litigation.
