Overview
- The FCC voted 2-1 on Thursday, August 6, 2026, to eliminate the 39% national television household ownership cap and move to individualized reviews of station mergers.
- Commission chair Brendan Carr said the change will help local broadcasters gain scale and attract investment, while Commissioner Anna Gomez dissented and called the vote unlawful.
- Advocacy groups including Free Press announced plans to sue the FCC over the repeal, arguing Congress set the 39% limit in law and the agency lacks power to remove it.
- The Nexstar–Tegna merger, which would far exceed the old cap, remains blocked by a federal judge’s injunction while antitrust suits from state attorneys general and DirecTV proceed.
- Whether the repeal produces bigger broadcaster deals, newsroom cuts, or more centralized programming will depend on pending litigation and likely congressional scrutiny, which will decide if the rule change takes practical effect.