D.C. Memo: Key House Republicans Back FCC Relaxation of TV Station Ownership Rules
Reps. Guthrie, Hudson call for looser limits on TV station ownership, supporting the agenda of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr and helping with Nexstar Media Group's acquisition of TV station owner TEGNA
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39% Cap: Two key House Republicans on Wednesday backed FCC Chairman Brendan Carr on relaxing TV station ownership rules. The news not only gave a boost to Carr’s agenda but also strengthened the case of Nexstar Media Group’s effort to acquire 64 TV stations from TEGNA over the opposition of groups like the American TV Alliance and business owners like Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy, who has been leveraging his friendship with President Trump in trying to kill the deal. “I have noted several times during this Congress the urgency of updating media regulation to allow regulated industries the opportunity to compete against new platforms and specifically the Big Tech companies, who are competing with broadcasting and cable companies for advertising revenue and viewership,” said House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) at an FCC oversight hearing. “It is important to remove outdated regulations, and I appreciate Chairman Carr’s efforts to modernize these legacy regulatory structures to reduce burdens on incumbent industries.” President Trump is concerned that raising or abolishing the 39% cap on TV households a broadcaster may reach nationally may further empower Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Disney’s ABC – two liberal outlets whose news divisions Trump despises. (More after paywall.)
