Critics Condemn Attempts to Eliminate FCC Ownership Rules by NABET-CWA

Critics Condemn Attempts to Eliminate FCC Ownership Rules by NABET-CWA

WASHINGTON - Broadcast technicians union NABET-CWA is going toe-to-toe with the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) and station owners, challenging a bold move to ditch the ownership rules governing over-the-air TV stations.

In a fiery letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), NABET-CWA, teaming up with the American Economic Liberties Project, the Open Markets Institute, United Church of Christ, Office of Communications, and others, blasted the effort to scrap these regulations. They view it as unnecessary, not aligned with the public's best interest, and obstructive to the FCC's authority.

This heated debate has unfolded in the FCC's docket for public comments, titled "In Re: Delete, Delete, Delete," triggering lengthy filings and letters from key players. NAB, the Society of Broadcast Engineers, state broadcasting associations, America's Public Television Stations, PBS, Nexstar Media Group, Sinclair, Gray Media, Mission Broadcasting, and numerous individual TV stations have all made their voices heard in the comment pool. Many of these filings, from NAB, Nexstar, Sinclair, and Gray Media, have zeroed in on the necessity of removing ownership rules.

NABET and allies, speaking out in their letter, stressed, "We write to emphasize that the Commission should not remove or modify the national or local media ownership rules."

The letter further stated, "The request for comments in this docket was outside of regular Commission practice, was not adopted by vote of the Commission or by staff under identified delegated authority, and is not a notice of proposed rulemaking or a notice of inquiry."

The letter also underlined how such changes would require additional notice of proposed rulemaking or procedure to adhere to FCC rules and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The APA requires notice of a proposed change in the Federal Register before regulations are altered, whether new rules are introduced, or existing ones modified or 'deleted.'

Moreover, the letter highlighted that those advocating for the deletion of ownership rules have overstated changes to the news landscape. "Broadcasting continues to be unique and essential to local news and democracy, and streaming video and websites are not a replacement for local broadcasting," the letter argued.

The letter further pointed out that the rise of online video streaming and tech giants does not justify removing any limits on broadcaster consolidation to survive within the industry. As revealed in recent studies, a majority of Americans still access news via TV news stations, and local TV station viewers primarily access their information online, be it from a TV station's website, app, email newsletter, or social media posts.

NABET's letter brought up examples such as Nexstar, the largest owner of local broadcast television stations, reaching 70% of American households. In the fourth quarter of 2024, Nexstar boasted a record net revenue of $1.49 billion and returned $820 million to shareholders in the form of dividends and share repurchases. This revenue surge marks Nexstar's twelfth year in a row increasing its dividend.

The letter also questioned whether broadcasters' arguments for deregulation are motivated by genuine technological changes or, instead, a pro-consolidation agenda that fails to address the need to regulate tech giants and streaming video services.

Finally, the FCC lacks the authority to alter the ownership caps, as per the letter, due to Congress not intending for this commission to have the ability to change the national cap. The letter concluded that maintaining the national cap serves the public's interest and supports localism in the nation's news ecosystem, stating that allowing further consolidation would increase the risk of centralized journalism being produced, divorced from the local communities that broadcast licenses are intended to serve.

You can read the full letter here.

1. The union NABET-CWA, in a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), has challenged the industry's attempt to abolish the ownership rules for over-the-air TV stations.
2. NABET-CWA, along with other organizations such as the American Economic Liberties Project and the Open Markets Institute, view this move as unnecessary, not in the public's best interest, and an obstruction to the FCC's authority.
3. The debate about these ownership rules has become intense in the FCC's "In Re: Delete, Delete, Delete" docket, leading to lengthy filings and letters from key players.
4. NAB, Nexstar Media Group, Sinclair, Gray Media, and other broadcasters have argued for the removal of ownership rules, stating their necessity.
5. In their letter, NABET and allies have requested the FCC not to remove or modify the national or local media ownership rules.
6. The letter emphasizes that such changes would require additional notice of proposed rulemaking or procedure to adhere to FCC rules and the Administrative Procedure Act (APA).
7. The letter argues that the rise of online video streaming and tech giants does not justify removing any limits on broadcaster consolidation, as a majority of Americans still access news via TV news stations.
8. The letter raises concerns about the motivations behind broadcasters' calls for deregulation, questioning whether they are driven by genuine technological changes or a pro-consolidation agenda that overlooks the need to regulate tech giants and streaming video services.

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