The FCC has opened the public comment period on the future of radio ownership limits.
As part of the 2022 Quadrennial Review, the commission adopted a notice of proposed rulemaking for a review on media ownership rules. The three rules affected are the local TV ownership rule, the dual network rule and the local radio ownership rule.
Interested parties can file comments with the FCC through Dec. 17. The commission will accept reply comments through Jan. 16.
Current radio caps were established by Congress in 1996. Right now, in a market with 45 or more radio stations, one entity may own eight stations, with no more than five in either the AM or FM band.
In a market with 30–44 stations, an entity may own seven stations, with no more than four in AM or FM. In a market with 15–29 stations, a broadcaster may own six, with no more than four in one band. And in a market with 14 or fewer, an entity may own five with no more than three in one band, provided it does not own more than half of the stations in the market.
Comments can be filed electronically through the FCC’s ECFS. The docket number is 22-459.
[Related: “FCC Launches Its Review of AM/FM Ownership Limits”]
