In 2016, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) ordered the continuation of rigid media cross-ownership rules, rules that, in part, go back to the 1940s. These old rules ban local newspapers and television stations from merging, and restrict mergers between local broadcasters – all on the grounds of thwarting market concentration and preserving local news and programming. As I pointed out before, the rules actually harm local programming by weakening the ability of local newspapers and local broadcasters to achieve more efficient operations and be financial viability.

Now, the FCC is reconsidering revising archaic rules and that is a good thing for consumers.

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