Editorial Board

The FCC Vote That Puts Local News at Risk

Dumping old regulations may not promote competition. In fact, it could mean fewer voices get heard.

November 15, 2017 at 5:14 PM UTC

By The Editorial Board

The Editorial Board publishes the views of the editors across a range of national and global affairs.

Thursday is a big day for Ajit Pai.
Photographer: Nicholas Kamm/AFP/Getty Images

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The Federal Communications Commission will vote this week on whether to eliminate a variety of limitations on media ownership. Some of these rollbacks are overdue. But others are overdone -- and threaten to diminish the variety of news and views broadcast on local television.

The key to telling the difference is to keep in mind the FCC's main purpose with this kind of regulation: to promote competition and a diversity of views in local markets. Before purging its antiquated rulebook, the commission should develop a new framework for advancing these broader goals.