The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has voted to overturn a rule that prevented any single company from owning television stations reaching more than 39% of all US TV households. The 2-1 vote, which occurred along party lines on Thursday morning, has been described as a win for television conglomerates aiming to expand their national reach.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr, who supported the initiative, argued that repealing the cap would benefit local broadcasters and restore balance to broadcast airwaves. However, critics suggest large media conglomerates will be the immediate beneficiaries of the decision. The FCC's media bureau stated the cap was no longer necessary and constrained local television networks from increasing their scale.
Anna M Gomez, the lone Democrat on the FCC, voted against the repeal, calling the action "unlawful" and a departure from statutory boundaries. Advocacy groups for press freedom and media pluralism have heavily criticised the vote, with Free Press stating they and their allies intend to challenge the decision in court.