politics
Tom DeLay Helped Create TV Ownership Cap—He Says Trump FCC Has No Authority to Repeal It
Congress set ownership limit at 39%, but FCC claims authority to kill the rule.
TL;DR
- Tom DeLay, former House Majority Leader, states the FCC has no legal authority to repeal the 39% National Television Ownership Rule.
- DeLay asserts that only Congress, not the FCC, can change the cap as it is specified in US law.
- The FCC is scheduled to vote on eliminating the cap, a move supported by Chairman Brendan Carr.
- The 39% cap was established through a compromise DeLay made with Sen. Ted Stevens to pass a budget bill.
- The law specifically prohibits the FCC from changing or repealing the cap during its quadrennial reviews.
- Former FCC Commissioner Mike O’Rielly also believes the cap is a statute that the FCC cannot modify.
- The Trump FCC's arguments for repealing the cap focus on congressional direction to modify rules rather than enacting a fixed law.
- TV providers are preparing for legal challenges, expressing confidence that courts will overturn the FCC's action.
- The FCC granted a waiver to Nexstar Media Group to buy Tegna, allowing it to reach over half of US TV households, despite the existing cap.