FCC scraps TV station ownership cap, opening the door to media consolidation

The 22-year-old rule barred any single company from reaching more than 39% of U.S. TV households; critics say only Congress can lift it

In a 2-1 vote, the commission eliminates a rule that kept station groups from reaching more than 39 percent of TV households.

The Federal Communications Commission voted to eliminate a cap on the share of U.S. television households a single company can reach

The FCC removed a key constraint on broadcasters’ ability to consolidate stations, voting to repeal an ownership cap put in place to try to limit to power of any one media company. The FCC’s 2-1 vote on Thursday was to repeal a restriction that limits companies from owning stations reaching more than 39% of TV…