Cable lobby to sue Trump FCC over repeal of national TV ownership cap

Key Points:

• Cable lobby groups representing major providers like Comcast and Charter have notified the FCC they will sue to block its repeal of the National Television Ownership Rule, which limits broadcast station ownership to 39% of US TV households.
• The cable groups argue that repealing the cap will enable large broadcast groups to demand higher retransmission fees, leading to increased monthly TV bills for consumers, and claim the FCC’s repeal ignores harms mandated by Congress in 2004.
• The FCC contends it has authority to modify or eliminate the cap outside the quadrennial review process, asserting the 2004 law directs rule modification rather than enacting a fixed statutory limit, a position disputed by the cable groups.
• Additional lawsuits are expected from media advocacy groups like Free Press, which warn that repealing the cap will lead to dominant broadcasters controlling local markets, job cuts, and lower-quality local news content.
• The FCC’s recent approval of large mergers such as Nexstar’s purchase of Tegna, despite ongoing antitrust litigation, exemplifies concerns over industry consolidation and consumer harm that opponents say will worsen if the ownership cap repeal proceeds.