FCC Launches Review Of Media Regulations

The FCC today began a review of its rules applicable to media entities, including broadcasters, cable operators, and satellite television providers. 

The FCC’s action invites public comment on which media rules should be modified or eliminated as unnecessary or burdensome. Through this review, the FCC said it seeks to “reduce regulations that can stand in the way of competition, innovation, and investment in the media marketplace.”  The commission also seeks input regarding specific rules from which small businesses should receive regulatory relief.

In announcing the action, the FCC said: “Today’s media entities are subject to a multitude of regulations, many of which are decades old.  By launching this initiative, the FCC takes another step toward modernizing its rules to the benefit of American consumers.”

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said: “We want to figure out whether and how to update our rules to match the realities of today’s marketplace. We aim to get public input on which rules are still necessary and which should be modified or eliminated. We want to modernize our rules in order to better promote the public interest and clear a path for more competition, innovation, and investment in the media sector. This is simply good government.”