FCC to Repeal 98 Broadcast Regulations
- The New York State Broadcasters Association
- Aug 12
- 2 min read
As part of its “Delete, Delete, Delete” process, the FCC announced that it plans to delete 98 broadcast regulations that no longer serve the public interest. The plans were announced at its meeting on August 7th. Importantly, the FCC is using a new process that first eliminates a rule and then seeks public comment on its elimination. If public comment supports keeping the rule, then the FCC may reinstate the rule. This is the reverse of the old process in which the FCC first sought public comment before eliminating a rule. Under the new process, the rule is eliminated unless public comments show there is good justification for reinstating its regulation.
As for the broadcast rules being eliminated, the FCC stated in a press release:
“Today’s action repeals rule provisions identified primarily in the broadcast services section of the regulations that plainly do not serve the public interest any longer because they govern obsolete technology, rules no longer used in practice by the FCC or licensee, or rules that are otherwise outdated or unnecessary. The item repeals rules related to old technology that is no longer used, such as 1970sera regulations dictating the kind of testing equipment radio stations are required to purchase.”
In his separate statement, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr observed:
“Specifically, today’s action will remove 71 rule provisions, including 98 rules and requirements, 12 pages, and 5,117 words from the FCC’s rule books. Consistent with the law, this decision targets only those regulations that would not benefit from more extensive regulatory processes. For instance, it removes regulations that govern obsolete technology, like analog television service and procedures for a TV subscription system that operates on a now defunct technology; or are otherwise no longer necessary, like a list of policies that doesn’t regulate anything and includes outdated information.”
This is an important step in eliminating unnecessary regulations that have hampered the competitive posture of local stations. NYSBA supports these efforts.
You can see the FCC’s decision, including a list of the rules that were eliminated here.
