American Television Alliance Condemns FCC Plan to Repeal National Broadcast Ownership Cap

FCC’s Plan to Repeal 39% Cap Violates Clear Congressional Mandate, Will Drive Up TV Bills for Millions of Americans

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Television Alliance (ATVA) today responded to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) announcement that it will vote next month on an Order repealing the 39 percent national broadcast ownership cap.

In 2004, Congress adopted a specific 39 percent national cap on broadcast television ownership, limiting the share of U.S. television households that a single broadcaster may reach nationwide. Congress designed the limit to protect localism and viewpoint diversity and preserve competition and consumer choice in the television marketplace.

“Congress set the 39 percent cap and told the FCC it could not change it,” said ATVA spokesman Hunter Wilson. “The Commission’s attempt to repeal the broadcast ownership cap ignores Congress’s clear instructions and opens the door to further big media consolidation, driving up costs and undermining localism by reducing local news programming for tens of millions of Americans. There is no evidence that further broadcast consolidation improves the quality of local content. We are confident that reviewing courts will quickly overturn this misguided action.”

Since 2010, broadcasters have levied more than 2,500 TV blackouts and increased retransmission consent fees by an overwhelming 2,000 percent, with American TV viewers paying the price. During that time, viewership among the Big Four broadcast networks dropped by nearly 50 percent, while station ownership from the nation’s largest broadcasters increased by nearly 500 percent. As broadcaster consolidation accelerates, consumer costs continue to rise.

ATVA stands ready to work with Congress to modernize dated regulations that turn sizable profits for broadcasters at the expense of consumers. To learn more about ATVA’s work, visit https://americantelevisionalliance.org/about-the-issue/. 

Read more about the FCC’s lack of statutory authority to revise national ownership caps HERE.