Localism

The Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal its 39 percent national television multiple ownership rule and replace it with a granular, case-by-case review. This will empower the FCC to approve deals that promote the public interest while allowing the agency to reject any deals that do not meet that standard.

In our current age, we are all constantly learning, growing, and navigating a rapidly changing digital landscape. This reality has created a growing need for support systems that help people build confidence in the digital world. Ensuring that everyone can participate fully in that landscape requires intentional, community-based resources.

The Federal Communications Commission's Media Bureau approved the sale of certain local broadcast TV stations from TEGNA to Nexstar, with certain conditions Nexstar committed to in the record. The Media Bureau found that approving this transaction, with those commitments, will empower these broadcasters to better serve their communities by investing in local news and reporting. The transaction will also enable these broadcast TV stations to counter the growing power that national programmers have amassed in recent years.

When President Trump endorsed Nexstar‘s proposed merger with Tegna, which would create a broadcast giant reaching 80 percent of the country, it scrambled a feverish Washington (DC) lobbying effort over a transaction that has gotte

I am deeply concerned about your efforts to eliminate all media ownership restrictions, including one that you have no authority to change. I would like to remind you that you do not have the authority to alter or eliminate the 39 percent national television ownership cap. The limit on how much of the national television audience any one broadcast station ownership group is allowed to reach is enshrined in law, and therefore cannot be changed without congressional action.

We are advancing a Build America Agenda—a concrete plan to unleash high-speed infrastructure builds, drive down prices for consumers, and restore U.S. leadership in wireless. We are reinvigorating the agency’s consumer protection work, including its efforts to crack down on illegal robocalls. We are empowering broadcasters to meet their public interest obligations.  We are strengthening America’s national security and advancing public safety. We are undertaking the largest deregulatory effort in the agency’s history.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr announced a review of the relationships between broadcast networks and their affiliates, calling into question contractual restrictions that penalize stations for pre-empting shows and those that prevent them from airing rival programming.

Sinclair said it built a roughly 8 percent stake in E.W. Scripps and is vying to acquire the local TV broadcaster. The two companies held constructive talks about a potential deal in recent months but have yet to strike an agreement, Sinclair said. Sinclair’s stake was revealed in a regulatory filing. Sinclair bought up the stake to add pressure on Scripps to strike a deal.

Federal Communications Commissioner Olivia Trusty delivered remarks at the Media Institute's Free Speech America Gala. She spoke about free speech, broadcasting, and ensuring US leadership in communications innovation. "First, we must maintain a regulatory environment that encourages it," she said. "That means eliminating unnecessary legal barriers, streamlining outdated rules, and modernizing permitting to support investment and deployment. Second, we must use federal resources wisely. Spectrum must be put to its highest and best use.

The Seattle Community Network (SCN) is a volunteer-based, grassroots community nonprofit with a small operating budget (currently averaging $10-$50K in grants, donations, or in-kind contributions per year) that installs and provides internet access for homeless shelters. This post describes the software infrastructure we use to run our network and operations. The solutions detailed here will be most apt for other community networks that feature similar organizational styles and seek to minimize operating costs.