FCC votes to eliminate national TV ownership cap, allowing unlimited broadcast consolidation

On August 6, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission voted 2-1 to eliminate the 22-year-old national TV ownership cap, which limited a single company's reach to 39% of U.S. households. Pushed by Republican Chairman Brendan Carr, the deregulatory move aims to help local broadcasters compete with tech giants. However, Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez and advocacy groups blast the decision as unlawful, arguing only Congress can alter the limit, and vow to challenge it in court.

FCC national ownership cap repeal

• ▪The repealed rule previously prevented any single company from owning television stations that collectively reach more than 39% of all United States television households.
• ▪FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and Republican Commissioner Olivia Trusty voted to repeal the cap, while Democratic Commissioner Anna M. Gomez voted against it.
• ▪On August 6, 2026, the Federal Communications Commission voted 2-1 along party lines to eliminate the national television ownership cap.
• ▪The Federal Communications Commission will replace the 39% national audience reach cap with a case-by-case review process.

Legal authority dispute

• ▪Democratic Commissioner Anna M. Gomez and advocacy group Free Press argued that the Federal Communications Commission's vote to eliminate the cap is unlawful because only Congress has the authority to change the limit.
• ▪FCC Chairman Brendan Carr asserted that the Federal Communications Commission has the statutory authority to modify or repeal the national television ownership cap.
• ▪Advocacy group Free Press announced plans to challenge the Federal Communications Commission's decision to eliminate the ownership cap in court.

Media consolidation impact

• ▪The repeal of the cap could facilitate the pending $6.2 billion merger of Nexstar Media Group and Tegna, which was put on hold by a federal judge.
• ▪Opponents of the rule change argue that eliminating the cap will accelerate media consolidation, lead to journalist layoffs, and reduce local viewpoint diversity.
• ▪In March 2026, the Federal Communications Commission granted a waiver of the ownership cap to approve the Nexstar and Tegna merger on a stand-alone basis.

Industry reactions to vote

• ▪Protesters gathered outside the Federal Communications Commission building in Washington on August 6, 2026, to demonstrate against the vote and Chairman Brendan Carr.
• ▪Senator Elizabeth Warren criticized the vote, calling it an attempt by the Trump administration to facilitate antitrust disasters and benefit billionaire owners.
• ▪Nexstar Media Group and Sinclair Broadcast Group Chief Executive Officer Chris Ripley praised the decision, arguing it allows local broadcasters to compete with unregulated digital platforms.

Broadcast ownership regulation history

• ▪The 39% national television ownership cap was established through a congressional compromise in 2003 and codified into federal law in 2004.
• ▪In the 1980s, the Federal Communications Commission's ownership cap limited companies to owning 12 stations reaching no more than 25% of television households before Congress raised it to 35% in the 1990s.