Overview

• The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeks input on the Local Television rule, the Dual Network rule, and local radio ownership limits, including whether to retain, modify, or eliminate them.
• Chair Brendan Carr cited competition from streaming and online platforms as a reason to reassess rules designed for a different media marketplace.
• The action follows an Eighth Circuit decision vacating the FCC’s prior retention of the “top four” local TV restriction, which the agency acknowledged as part of the context for this review.
• A separate proceeding on the national 39% TV household cap has already taken public comment, a change that, if allowed, could affect deals such as Nexstar’s proposed $6.2 billion acquisition of Tegna.
• Commissioner Anna Gomez supported seeking comment but warned that further consolidation could weaken localism, pointing to the recent Jimmy Kimmel preemptions by major station groups as a cautionary example.