America’s broadcasters are beacons of our democracy. Every day, they exercise their First Amendment right to report, inform, and help citizens understand the issues that affect their daily lives.
And let’s face it: This is a challenging time to be a broadcast journalist. As the truth competes with falsehoods on social media and political polarization gets the headlines, exercising our First Amendment right to inform the public and provide the facts has never been more challenging – or essential.
To fulfill this mission, newsrooms must be able to report without fear or favor. This isn’t just a constitutionally protected right – it is fundamental to serving every local community. We have defended this right time and time again.
Democracy relies on journalists’ ability to report the news without the risk of government retribution. In a media environment flooded with misinformation and cable news politicization, this role has never been more important.
No other industry does what local broadcasters do, providing an essential public service free to all.
Newspapers continue to shutter at more than two per week, and media companies are increasingly national and global, yet local broadcasters remain, filling the gap to provide the local news our communities value, along with emergency updates, weather, and live sports. No Big Tech algorithm will ever replicate our vital service.
During emergencies, when people don’t know where to turn, they look to local broadcasters. During national events, when Americans want news they trust, they look to local broadcasters. And for moments we all want to experience together – whether the Super Bowl or election night returns – they look to local broadcasters.
While I feel fortunate to wake up each day knowing broadcasters’ work is a fundamental bedrock of democracy, I am also deeply concerned. The government’s failure to modernize regulations has pushed local broadcasting to a precipice. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr recently called this a “break glass moment,” warning that if we don’t act quickly, the future of local broadcasting is at great risk.
So, how did we get here?
Broadcasting is highly regulated, and unfortunately these government regulations have not kept pace with the rapidly evolving media landscape. For years, the FCC treated broadcasting as though it exists in isolation, ignoring the rise of cable, streaming, and social media. These competitors are not bound by the same public interest obligations or regulatory burdens. Big Tech grows unchecked, extracting advertising revenue from local communities while avoiding ownership restrictions that restrain local stations.
While Netflix, YouTube, and Spotify can reach all Americans, broadcasters are held back by regulations that prevent them from competing on a level playing field. Tech platforms like Google and Facebook offer advertisers unlimited reach – something broadcasters are restricted from matching because the government won’t allow it.
Times have changed, and regulations imposed before the internet even existed must change, too.
YouTube now accounts for one-tenth of all the TV Americans watch – more than any other video service – and one-third of adults under 30 get their news from TikTok.
We welcome competition on a level playing field. But YouTube and TikTok aren’t on the ground reporting when wildfires tear through neighborhoods or hurricanes destroy entire towns. They don’t send reporters to the Potomac River at night when a plane crashes. They don’t stay live for as long as it takes to tell the public what they need to know.
Big Tech won’t do what local broadcasters do. They’re interested in clicks – not public service.
But what can we do to ensure local TV and radio stations are able to compete, grow, and innovate?
For decades, the FCC has maintained strict ownership rules on broadcasters – rules that were put in place when broadcasting was virtually the only game in town.
A single television broadcaster is limited to reaching 39% of American homes. But Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon have no such limit. Only local broadcasters remain bound by outdated rules. The FCC should eliminate this cap and must also modernize local TV and radio ownership rules.
Current FCC rules largely prevent TV broadcasters from owning two of the top four-rated stations in a market. But these rules ignore the vast array of competition broadcasters now face. Many communities would be best served by investment in one or two strong newsrooms rather than four struggling ones.
News is costly to produce, and stations invest heavily in keeping reporters in their communities. Without regulatory changes, local newsrooms will continue to downsize and struggle to provide the trusted information our communities rely on.
Eliminating these restrictions will allow stations to aggregate resources, invest in journalism, and strengthen their vital local service.
For radio, outdated rules limit the number of stations a company can operate in a market, reducing consumer choice and investment. Meanwhile, streaming services like Spotify and Apple can offer unlimited stations.
These ownership rules were meant to promote competition, but in reality, they give Big Tech a free pass while tying broadcasters’ hands.
And, what do we stand to lose if the playing field is not leveled?
First, vital journalism.
Newspapers are disappearing, leaving a growing void in local news that broadcasters are working hard to fill – despite regulatory roadblocks. Research shows that as broadcast companies grow, they produce more local news. Over the past decade, as station groups have consolidated, total hours of local news have increased by 33%.
Local broadcasters remain the most trusted source of news. A recent study found that:
- 73% of adults trust local TV news.
- 65% trust news on the radio.
Both far surpass public trust in social media.
Second, we risk consumer access to free, live sports.
Football dominates television viewership, with 93 of the top 100 most-watched broadcasts each year. But Big Tech companies are peeling games away from broadcast, putting them behind paywalls. Without ownership rule changes, sports fans may soon need even more subscriptions to watch their favorite teams.
Finally, public safety is at risk if local stations aren’t economically viable.
The recent California wildfires reinforced the indispensable role of broadcasters. As fires spread, local stations provided wall-to-wall coverage, doubling and tripling their audiences as people turned to trusted voices in the crisis.
Regulatory modernization will give local stations the ability to invest in journalists, valued content, and newsroom technology.
Broadcasters are doing their part to serve their communities. The FCC and Congress must do theirs by modernizing ownership rules and ensuring local stations can compete. The time to act is now.
Curtis LeGeyt is the president and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, where he serves as the chief advocate for America’s free, local television and radio broadcasters. This article is adapted from remarks Mr. LeGeyt delivered at The Media Institute’s Communications Forum luncheon on Feb. 19, 2025.