The Supreme Court will consider letting the Federal Communications Commission ease limits on the ownership of local media outlets, agreeing to hear appeals from the broadcast industry and President Donald Trump’s administration in a fight that dates back almost two decades.
The justices will review a federal appeals court decision that blocked the changes and told the FCC to study the impact they would have on female and minority ownership in the media industry. Relaxing the rules could mean a wave of consolidation affecting TV stations nationwide.
The rules at issue “preserve whatever diversity of voices left in local TV and radio,” said GIGI Sohn, a former Democratic FCC aide. “Any further watering down of the rules would make it worse.”
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