FCC to vote Aug 6 on ending national TV ownership cap

The Federal Communications Commission is scheduled to vote on August 6, 2026, to eliminate the national cap on television station ownership, a decades-old rule that prevents any single entity from controlling stations reaching more than 39 percent of U.S. households. The proposal would replace the blanket restriction with a case-by-case review process for future media mergers.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who announced the planned vote, argues the current rule has become counterproductive in the modern media landscape. He contends that while digital platforms like Netflix, social media sites, and cable channels can reach the entire country without restriction, the cap uniquely hinders local broadcasters from achieving similar scale. This, he says, puts them at a severe competitive disadvantage, limiting their ability to invest in local news and programming. In a published opinion piece, Carr stated the cap is now preventing local broadcasters from gaining the scale their competitors freely enjoy, doing the opposite of its original intent.

The move has been applauded by industry groups, including the National Association of Broadcasters. Its CEO, Curtis LeGeyt, said eliminating the...