The FCC is considering repealing a rule that limits broadcasters from reaching more than 39 percent of the national television audience.
A possible initiative by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to repeal or revise a rule and allow companies to have increased ownership of television stations has been opposed by President Donald Trump.
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has publicly mulled changing the body’s “national television multiple ownership rule” or “national audience reach cap,” a federal regulation that limits any one entity from owning television networks that reach more than 39 percent of television households in the country.
“I am glad that we are launching this proceeding,” Carr said in 2017 when the commission issued a notice seeking public comment on the rule.
In June this year, the FCC reopened the docket and asked for updated public comments in order to “refresh the record.”
On Nov. 23, Trump said that he opposed repealing the rule, saying lifting it would help media corporations such as the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) and the National Broadcasting Company (NBC), which he has said produce favorable coverage of the Democratic Party and left-wing politics.
“If this would also allow the Radical Left Networks to ‘enlarge,’ I would not be happy. ABC & NBC, in particular, are a disaster – A VIRTUAL ARM OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY. They should be viewed as an illegal campaign to the Radical Left,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “NO EXPANSION OF THE FAKE NEWS NETWORKS. If anything, make them SMALLER!”
Trump’s post included an article by Newsmax, which outlined the opposition from the broadcaster’s CEO, Christopher Ruddy, to repealing the rule.
Newsmax’s competitors would benefit from the rule’s repeal, which would be required for the commission to approve the acquisition of Tegna Media Group by Nexstar Media Group for $6.2 billion, according to Newsmax. Tegna owns 64 local news channels nationwide.
“If you have left-wing networks like ABC, NBC and CBS – or groups like Nexstar today controlling every local station and their local news — Republicans would have little chance to win in state and federal elections,” Ruddy said.
By Arjun Singh
