Senators Question FCC Chairman Over Approval Of Nexstar

Deadline • March 31, 2026 • business

Key Points:

Senate Commerce Committee leaders Sen. Ted Cruz and Sen. Maria Cantwell have questioned the FCC's approval of the Nexstar-Tegna merger, citing concerns over the use of delegated authority without a full commission vote for such a significant transaction.
The merger, which creates the largest local broadcast TV group in U.S. history with 259 stations reaching nearly 80% of households, was approved by the FCC's Media Bureau but has been paused by a federal court's temporary restraining order amid antitrust lawsuits.
Cruz and Cantwell argue that the full commission should have voted on the deal due to its scale and complexity, warning that the delegated approval undermines transparency and accountability and complicates judicial review of the merger.
The FCC has defended its decision and granted Nexstar a waiver from media ownership caps, while Nexstar closed the deal shortly after approval despite ongoing legal challenges from DirecTV, states, and other groups.
The controversy has caused Nexstar's shares to decline, and FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez expressed bipartisan agreement that the merger should have been subject to a full commission vote rather than a behind-closed-doors approval.

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