FCC Votes to Review Major Broadcast Merger Ban

The Federal Communications Commission voted 3-0 to adopt a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to review longstanding broadcast ownership regulations. The commission will seek public comment on whether to retain, modify, or eliminate the dual network rule preventing mergers between ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC, as well as limits on local radio and television ownership, including the "top-four" prohibition.

Chairman Brendan Carr stated the agency intends to examine the broader media marketplace rather than treating broadcast radio and television as isolated markets, arguing that rules must evolve to reflect competition from streaming platforms. This review follows a July 2025 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit that vacated the Top-Four Prohibition and described the quadrennial review process as inherently deregulatory.

Commissioner Anna Gomez supported the procedurally required vote but cautioned that modernization must preserve localism and diversity of voices. Gomez criticized the motives of corporate broadcasters seeking consolidation and condemned recent pressure from Carr that led The Walt Disney Company to temporarily pre-empt Jimmy Kimmel's show, which she characterized as government intimidation. The review occurs amid broader political tension, including statements from President Donald Trump suggesting that networks criticizing him should lose their licenses.