Yesterday, the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in broadcasters’ legal challenge to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 2018 quadrennial review. This was a significant opportunity to remind the court and the FCC that these regulations prevent local TV and radio stations from being able to grow and provide new services, while their Big Tech competitors are subject to no such rules.
The quadrennial review process was enacted by Congress to ensure the FCC reviews broadcast ownership regulations on a regular basis, recognizes the new forms of competition broadcasters face and eliminates rules that are no longer necessary as a result. Unfortunately for the American public, the FCC has failed to meaningfully modernize these outdated regulations despite the sweeping changes taking place in the media industry for the past decade.
The rules governing ownership of local TV and radio stations must reflect today’s marketplace realities. Without immediate action to allow broadcasters more scale, Big Tech will be able to silence local stations and the trusted journalism and news they provide.
FACT: Old rules prevent local TV companies from reaching more than 39% of households, but Amazon, Netflix and YouTube do not have these constraints.
FACT: Old rules limit the number of radio stations in each community, but Spotify, SiriusXM, Amazon and Apple have no limits.
FACT: Without immediate changes, local TV and radio will not be able to compete with Big Tech giants and communities will lose their local connection.
While the case plays out in court, one fact remains unchanged: these decades-old regulations are putting the future of your local radio and TV stations in jeopardy. Without reform, local stations will struggle to survive when they cannot compete with tech giants for advertising and sports rights.
Local radio and TV stations are the backbone of communities across the country, delivering trusted news, life-saving emergency information and local programming that no tech platform or streaming service can replicate. But while Big Tech continues to consolidate power unchecked, broadcasters remain burdened by outdated restrictions that limit their ability to grow and innovate.
That’s why it is critical that the FCC expeditiously modernize its broadcast-only ownership restrictions. Policymakers must recognize that these rules don’t serve the public interest, they weaken the stations that serve local communities across America. It’s time for real reform that gives local stations the flexibility they need to thrive and continue delivering the essential content their communities depend on every day.
Learn more at nab.org/ModernizeTheRules.
