Local television ownership groups could grow after the Federal Communications Commission took a controversial vote to remove the national ownership cap.
The FCC voted, 2-1, at its August open meeting Thursday to lift the cap, which limited individual broadcasters’ ownership to stations that in aggregate reached no more than 39 percent of households, replacing it with a case-by-case review process.
Supporters say the move will funnel more resources to local news. Critics say the ownership cap supported viewpoint diversity and that the FCC lacks authority for the change.
Those critics include Senate Commerce Chairman Ted Cruz, who in July said in a statement he was “skeptical” that the FCC could change the cap without an act of Congress.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr compared local TV to digital cable, streaming and social media, which are not subject to FCC caps. He said that removing the cap would allow the FCC to consider mergers based on their merits.
