Owners of local ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC television stations are pressing the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to scrap longstanding ownership restrictions, arguing that the rules hinder their ability to compete with tech giants like Netflix, TikTok, and YouTube. These platforms, increasingly replacing traditional news sources, have put unprecedented pressure on local broadcasters, who say outdated regulations are tilting the playing field in favor of unregulated digital behemoths.
The call for change comes as the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) ramps up its advocacy efforts. In a Wednesday speech at The Media Institute, NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt laid bare the stakes, warning that local radio and television stations—vital lifelines for community news and emergency information—are at risk of being “choked off” without regulatory reform. “These national and local ownership rules were crafted to promote competition, but in practice they give Big Tech a free pass to dominate,” LeGeyt said, highlighting a stark disparity between the heavily regulated broadcast industry and the largely unfettered tech sector.
Current FCC rules impose a 39 percent national ownership cap, limiting any single television station owner from reaching more than 39 percent of U.S. households. Locally, the agency enforces a “one-to-a-market” restriction, preventing a single entity from owning more than one top-rated broadcast station in a given market. LeGeyt argues these limits, designed decades ago to prevent monopolies, now handcuff broadcasters in a media landscape transformed by streaming and social media.
“Big Tech just wants clicks,” LeGeyt said, contrasting the profit-driven motives of digital platforms with the public service role of local stations. He pointed to their coverage during crises—hurricanes, wildfires, or mass shootings—as evidence of their irreplaceable value. Yet, as audiences flock to YouTube for video content or TikTok for quick updates, local broadcasters are losing ground, unable to consolidate resources or scale up to meet the challenge.
The push to lift ownership caps isn’t new, but it’s gaining urgency. Last year, broadcasters lobbied Congress to force Big Tech into negotiations over content usage, a bid to level the economic playing field. Now, with LeGeyt at the helm of NAB—having been appointed president and CEO in 2022—the focus has shifted to the FCC, where broadcasters see an opportunity under the Trump administration’s deregulatory stance.
Critics, however, warn that easing restrictions could lead to media consolidation, reducing diversity of voices in local markets. Supporters counter that consolidation is already happening—just not among broadcasters. “Netflix and YouTube don’t care about your town’s school board meeting,” one station owner told reporters, speaking anonymously. “We do, but we need the tools to survive.”
As of today, February 21, 2025, the FCC has yet to respond formally, but the debate is heating up. For local stations, the fight isn’t just about market share—it’s about preserving a cornerstone of American journalism against a digital tide.
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