FCC Contemplates Major Changes to Broadcast Radio and Television Ownership Rules

The FCC has a public comment window open through Friday January 16, 2026, concerning an important change to national broadcast ownership rules.

FCC has asked members of the public and broadcasters whether to modify or remove the broadcast ownership cap rules, i.e., limitations on how many TV and radio stations can be owned by individual entities in a local area. This is important, even if you aren't a radio or TV consumer, because much of the local news and information is derived from these broadcast corporations via their websites. Without these ownership caps, the dozens of companies in each area could coalesce into a few national corporations, monopolizing the media in each local market.

More information is included below, but there is a quick and painless way to have your voice heard at the FCC. Music First has a user-friend comment page that ports your comment to the FCC's comment system: https://musicfirst.quorum.us/campaign/151041/

Tell the FCC your personal experience with local radio and television -- that's what they're looking for. There's a reason why radio started sucking first in the early 80's, then another jump in the late 90's: the FCC pursued ownership deregulation, local station owners were bought-up, and centralized corporate playlisting ensued. If you have worked in the television or radio field, tell them your story.

Further information

The FCC has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking as part of its 2022 Quadrennial Regulatory Review of its broadcast ownership rules. Under federal law (Section 202(h) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996), the Commission must review certain ownership rules every four years to decide whether they remain “necessary in the public interest as the result of competition,” or whether they should be modified or eliminated. The Commission is seeking public comment on whether to keep, change, or remove three main ownership restrictions:

Local Radio Ownership Rule — This rule limits the number of radio stations one company can own in the same local market. The FCC is asking whether this rule still makes sense given how competitive the media market is today, whether the specific station caps and market definitions should be changed, or whether the rule should be removed entirely.

Local Television Ownership Rule — This rule restricts how many TV stations a single entity may own in one local market. The FCC wants comment on whether the rule should remain, be updated (for example by changing market definitions or the cap on stations), or be eliminated, considering the many video options available now.

Dual Network Rule — This rule prevents mergers among the major broadcast networks (the “Big Four”). The FCC is asking whether this restriction still serves the public interest or whether it should be revised or removed.

The FCC explains that changes in technology and the media marketplace (like streaming, podcasts, and other non-broadcast competition) may affect whether these rules are still needed to promote competition, localism, and viewpoint diversity. The agency invites comments from individuals, broadcasters, and other stakeholders on these questions — including specific suggestions for how the rules might be modified or arguments for keeping or removing them.

Removing broadcast ownership limits can have several negative impacts on the public interest, especially in the areas the FCC is legally required to protect: competition, localism, and viewpoint diversity. Key concerns include:

1. Reduced Localism

Ownership limits help ensure that stations are responsive to local communities. If large companies are allowed to own many TV or radio stations in the same market:

Programming decisions may be centralized and made outside the community.
Local news coverage, emergency information, and community-focused content may decline.
Stations may rely more on syndicated or automated content rather than local voices.

2. Loss of Viewpoint Diversity

Broadcast spectrum is limited, and ownership rules are designed to prevent a small number of owners from controlling most outlets in a market.

Removing limits could allow a few companies to dominate local media.
This can reduce the number of independent editorial voices and viewpoints available to the public.
Fewer owners may mean less coverage of controversial or minority perspectives.

3. Harm to Competition

Without ownership caps:

Large media companies could buy up competitors, making it harder for new or small broadcasters to enter or survive in a market.
Advertising rates could increase due to reduced competition.
Independent and minority-owned stations could be disproportionately squeezed out.

4. Impact on Minority and Small Business Ownership

Ownership limits can help preserve opportunities for diverse ownership.
Consolidation tends to favor well-capitalized national companies.
Removing rules may further reduce ownership opportunities for minorities, women, and local entrepreneurs.

5. Overreliance on Market Forces

Broadcasting has historically been regulated because stations use public spectrum.
Pure market competition does not always protect public-interest goals like civic discourse, local journalism, or emergency communication.
Large consolidated owners may prioritize profitability over public service obligations.

6. Increased Risk of Uniform or Homogenized Content

Common ownership can lead to identical programming, news scripts, or editorial positions across multiple stations.
This undermines the diversity of content that local communities rely on for informed decision-making.