WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) today applauded a letter from 22 U.S. Senators urging the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to modernize outdated broadcast ownership rules. The senators underscored the urgent need to update regulations that prevent local radio and television stations from effectively competing in today’s media marketplace.
“The fast-evolving media marketplace has made broadcast ownership regulations in urgent need of modernization,” said Sen. Moran. “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.”
“We are grateful to Sen. Jerry Moran and his colleagues for their leadership in urging the FCC to modernize decades-old broadcast ownership rules that impede local stations’ ability to invest in our newsrooms, innovate and serve our communities,” 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day with trillion-dollar tech companies, yet we remain shackled by ownership restrictions that are premised on the outdated notion that broadcasters compete only with one another for audience and advertising. We urge Chairman Carr and the full Commission to act expeditiously to empower local stations to deliver the most-trusted news, emergency information and vital content Americans rely on.”
The letter reads, in part:
“Now is the time for swift FCC action to level the playing field for local broadcasters by modernizing the broadcast ownership rules. As newspapers continue to shutter across our country, local broadcasting remains the last bastion of trusted news for local communities. But 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.”
Click here to read the letter in its entirety.
Background:
NAB’s Modernize the Rules campaign is urging the FCC to overhaul broadcast ownership regulations that unfairly limit broadcasters’ ability to grow, invest in local journalism and compete for talent, content and advertising revenue.
Support continues to build around this issue. Last month, a bipartisan group of 73 members of the U.S. House of Representatives led by Rep. Richard Hudson (NC-09) sent a letter to the FCC calling for immediate action to update outdated ownership regulations that hurt local TV and radio stations. And a few weeks ago the National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts, MANA – A National Latina Organization, the National Urban League and the Hispanic Federation also sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission urging modernization of broadcast ownership regulations.
The National Association of Broadcasters is the premier advocacy association for America's broadcasters. NAB advances radio and television interests in legislative, regulatory and public affairs. Through advocacy, education and innovation, NAB enables broadcasters to best serve their communities, strengthen their businesses and seize new opportunities in the digital age. Learn more at nab.org.
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