NAB Urges FCC to Eliminate Outdated Broadcast Rules

RADIO ONLINE | Wednesday, April 30, 2025

National Association of Broadcasters (NAB)

In its latest filing to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) called on the agency to move forward with significant deregulation of the broadcast industry by eliminating obsolete rules that hinder investment, innovation, and competitiveness.

In its Reply Comments submitted under the FCC's "Delete, Delete, Delete" proceeding, NAB said the current regulatory framework is bloated and outdated, particularly compared to more lightly regulated sectors such as pay TV and digital media platforms. "Part 73 of the Code of Federal Regulations alone spans a whopping 423 pages-more than any other regulated service," the organization noted, arguing these regulations put broadcasters at a structural disadvantage.

The filing criticized comments from music industry groups like the musicFIRST Coalition and the Future of Music Coalition, accusing them of "copy-paste advocacy" and seeking to maintain regulations that would keep radio broadcasters "artificially small" despite increasing competition from streaming and satellite radio services. NAB argued these groups are using FCC proceedings as a backdoor to protect their market dominance while failing to offer evidence that supports their opposition to ownership rule reforms.

NAB reiterated its central policy request: that the FCC eliminate outdated local and national ownership restrictions that no longer reflect the realities of the competitive media environment. It also supported the removal of technical and administrative burdens such as Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) audits, public file obligations, and content-based regulations that it says infringe upon First Amendment rights.

However, NAB did not support all deregulation proposals. It opposed efforts by low-power FM (LPFM) advocates to allow commercial advertising and increased transmitter power, arguing that such changes would undermine the original community-focused intent of LPFM service and risk interference with full-power stations.

"The FCC should delete, delete, delete down to the core regulatory framework that supports innovation, investment, and choice for broadcasters, and most importantly, the audiences they serve," NAB concluded.

The full filing includes detailed responses to technical and legal proposals submitted in the docket, highlighting NAB's position as the primary advocate for removing legacy regulations while protecting core technical standards and public interest obligations.