WASHINGTON, D.C. — With Democrats including FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gómez livid and Republicans — as well as NAB head Curtis LeGeyt — cheering, the FCC in a 2-1 vote on Thursday voted to erase the 22 1/2-year old 39% national TV ownership reach cap put in place by Congress.
What would the FCC do should the agency be taken to court for its party-line decision? Chairman Brendan Carr is ready for whatever challenges are forthcoming.
In response to a query from a reporter at online publication The Capitol Forum at the start of a now-traditional post-Open Meeting press conference, Carr remarked, “Everyone is free to appeal FCC decisions. That’s how the process works.”
For the FCC, it comes down to an analysis of what’s the right policy call, he added.
“Everyone is free to litigate. Folks have litigated FCC media regulation decisions historically. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s appeals here and we will allow the courts to work through them. But we’ve done our part.”
Reiterating his comments made when voting in favor of the Report & Order eliminating the 39% national TV ownership reach cap, he cited parallels to the local newspaper industry. “I don’t want to be the FCC Chair that sat back and observed the trend and did nothing,” Carr said. “I think it is the right policy call.”
