In a blow to broadcasters and a victory for cable, the Federal Communications Commission has reaffirmed and toughened its network and TV station ownership limits, saying that despite a proliferation of alternative video options, including streaming video, limits on network and local station ownership remain necessary to promote the public interest goals of competition, localism and viewpoint diversity “given the unique obligations broadcast licensees have as trustees of the public’s airwaves to serve their local communities.”
In wrapping up its 2018 review of whether network and local TV station ownership limits and regulations are in the public interest, a Democratic majority of commissioners said they were.
