More than 20 conservative groups, led by Heritage Action for America, sent a letter Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr voicing their support for the agency’s efforts to modernize what they call outdated ownership regulations that they say negatively impact local TV and radio stations. The letter puts forth the argument that digital media is at an advantage over analogue media due to these regulations. “The FCC’s television and radio ownership rules date back to the
1940s, when broadcast dominated mass communications in the U.S. Since then, the media marketplace has changed drastically – from widespread deployment of cable and satellite television networks to the rise of social media, podcasts, and streaming. Local broadcasters compete directly with Big Tech, streaming services, and social media platforms in the marketplace of consumer content. Yet, unlike their competitors such as YouTube and Facebook, broadcasters are limited by the ownership rules in how many households and consumers they can reach. This is an inherent disadvantage.” The letter adds, “By eliminating the national television cap, local TV duopoly restrictions, and local radio ownership caps, broadcasters can better achieve the scale and efficiencies necessary to compete – and to attract vital investment – in a fragmented and rapidly evolving information market.” See the complete letter here as posted by NAB.
