FCC to Repeal 39 Percent TV Ownership Cap

Monday, July 20, 2026

The Federal Communications Commission will vote to repeal the National Television Ownership Rule that is supposed to prevent a single broadcast station owner from reaching more than 39 percent of all TV households in the US. The proposed change sets up a likely court battle over the FCC claim that it has authority to repeal a limit set by Congress.

Posted by lamplighter at 03:34 PM | 10 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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Brendan Carr Is Illegally Dismantling U.S. Media ConsolidationÂ Law Brendan Carr and the Trump FCC are finalizing plans to illegally eliminate what's left of the country's already barely ... https://www.techdirt.com/2026/07/20/brendan-carr-is-illegally-dismantling-u-s-media-consolidation-law/

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-- Techdirt (@techdirt.com) 8:25 AM Â· Jul 20, 2026

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More from the article ...

... FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has already treated the rule as more of a suggestion. In March, the Carr FCC granted a waiver allowing Nexstar Media Group to buy Tegna in a deal that let it reach over half of TV households. The Carr FCC argued that Congress gave it authority to modify or waive the rule.

Carr now plans to repeal the 39 percent limit and replace it with a "case-by-case review" of each proposed merger, the chairman announced today in an op-ed published on Breitbart.

The change would make it easier for the FCC to pick and choose which station groups get to surpass the limit.

Under Carr, this would likely benefit news companies that provide favorable coverage for President Trump. ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-07-17 01:54 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

... The president said networks that didn't air his primetime address on election security had committed "fraud." ...

#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-07-17 02:01 PM | Reply

I'd like to thank Bill Clinton, here, for setting us all on this road by allowing increased media consolidation during his term.
Once again, Slick Willie screwed us all.

#3 | Posted by morris at 2026-07-17 02:33 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

there are a million streamers, podcasts, etc.. 50 years ago this is bad, let them do it. Propaganda is easy to spot.

#4 | Posted by Brennnn at 2026-07-17 03:29 PM | Reply | Funny: 1

United States "President" William Jefferson Clinton sold off the publics spectrum, privatizing OUR future.

Every CEO should be buried.

Every advertiser caged.

Parasite culture.

#5 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2026-07-19 12:35 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

I'm going to wager Trump isn't happy his rambling nonsense wasn't covered by most media outlets.

#6 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-07-19 12:41 PM | Reply

Meanwhile back in Russia, where gas lines are as bad as in Crimea... State Propaganda Media is eating itself:

www.youtube.com

#7 | Posted by Corky at 2026-07-20 04:27 PM | Reply

there are a million streamers, podcasts, etc.. 50 years ago this is bad, let them do it. Propaganda is easy to spot.

#4 | Posted by Brennnn

I am fine with it as well. As long as CONGRESS repeals it. Not unelected Republican deep state bureaucrats.

#8 | Posted by gtbritishskull at 2026-07-20 05:27 PM | Reply

And if Congress REPEALS it. So that it is applied evenly. Not so those same unelected Republican deep state bureaucrats can pick and choose who they apply it to (or which of their friends they don't).

#9 | Posted by gtbritishskull at 2026-07-20 05:28 PM | Reply

@#8 ... I am fine with it as well. As long as CONGRESS repeals it. ...

Exactly.

It is not up to the FCC to decide which laws to obey.

#10 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-07-20 06:42 PM | Reply