Senators Urge FCC to Modernize Broadcast Ownership Rules

RADIO ONLINE | Friday, May 9, 2025 | 3:03pm CT

U.S. Senate

A bipartisan group of 22 U.S. Senators has called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to overhaul long-standing broadcast ownership regulations, arguing that current rules are outdated and hinder local broadcasters from competing in today's digital media environment.

The letter, sent May 6 to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, highlights how decades-old regulations -- some dating back to the 1940s -- fail to reflect the realities of a marketplace now dominated by digital platforms, streaming services, and tech giants. Despite modest updates, the rules remain largely unchanged since the 1990s.

"The fast-evolving media marketplace has made broadcast ownership regulations in urgent need of modernization," said Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), one of the letter's signatories. "By modernizing broadcast ownership restrictions, the FCC can empower broadcasters to fulfill their essential role in American democracy, foster local journalism, and benefit local communities and the public interest."

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) praised the initiative. "We are grateful to Sen. Jerry Moran and his colleagues for their leadership," said NAB President and CEO Curtis LeGeyt. "Local broadcasters compete every day with trillion-dollar tech companies, yet we remain shackled by ownership restrictions that are premised on the outdated notion that broadcasters compete only with one another for audience and advertising."

The senators' letter emphasizes the unique role broadcasters play in delivering trusted, local news -- especially as newspapers continue to close across the country. "Creating news requires substantial resources: without the opportunity to combine or expand operations, broadcasters struggle to invest in journalism, retain sufficient newsroom staff, and strain to compete against their unregulated global Big Tech competitors," the letter states .

The lawmakers urged the FCC to act swiftly, saying an update to ownership rules would help level the playing field, support newsroom investment, and protect the flow of vital information to local communities.

The full list of signers includes Senators Ted Budd, John Barrasso, Marsha Blackburn, Joni Ernst, Susan Collins, Chuck Grassley, Tim Scott, and others from both parties.