The Federal Communications Commission voted 2-1 along party lines on Thursday to repeal a nationwide audience cap that had previously prevented any single company from owning television stations reaching more than 39 percent of all U.S. TV households.
The agency decided to eliminate the limit in favor of reviewing proposed station acquisitions on a case-by-case basis. The move is a victory for television conglomerates aiming to expand their national reach, including conservative-leaning companies such as Nexstar and Sinclair Broadcast Group.
The decision has sparked contention and highlighted deep divisions over the future of local media ownership. Critics maintain that the 39 percent cap was a vital safeguard against the excessive concentration of media ownership in the United States.
The FCC's Democrat argued that the proposal was illegal, asserting that only Congress possesses the authority to lift the cap.