[REVISION HISTORY]

US FCC removes TV ownership cap, faces lawsuits

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-06 18:37 UTC → 2026-08-06 19:53 UTC · added ~~removed~~

US FCC removes TV ownership ~~cap~~ cap, faces lawsuits

In mid‑July 2026 the FCC announced it would replace the 39 percent national television‑ownership ceiling with a case‑by‑case public‑interest review. After meetings with broadcasters and the National Association of Broadcasters, the commission scheduled a vote for early August. On August 6, 2026 the FCC voted 2‑1 to rescind the cap. Chair Brendan Carr argued the change would help local stations compete with streaming services, while Democratic Commissioner Anna Gómez voted against it, calling the repeal illegal and saying only Congress can alter the statutory limit. The decision is expected to speed consolidation; the FCC had already waived the cap in March to approve Nexstar’s $3.54 billion purchase of Tegna, which would give Nexstar coverage of about 80 percent of U.S. TV households. Critics warned the repeal could concentrate market power and erode localism and viewpoint diversity. Industry groups, including Sinclair and the Multicultural Media, Telecom and Internet Council, issued opposing statements, reflecting a partisan split over the rule’s removal. A federal judge later ordered Nexstar and Tegna to keep their assets separate while antitrust litigation proceeds, and advocacy organization Free Press announced plans to sue the FCC, arguing the agency exceeded its authority and jeopardized competition and local news.

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