Rules for Radio

Eliminate Outdated Bureaucratic Rules That Unfairly Hurt Local Radio Stations

ISSUE SUMMARY

America’s local radio stations struggle to compete under outdated, bureaucratic regulations that disadvantage them compared to unregulated Big Tech audio streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and SiriusXM.

America’s local radio stations play a vital role in our communities, providing essential local news, emergency information and community-focused programming.
Without immediate changes to these rules, communities could lose their local radio stations and the important news, weather, traffic, sports and entertainment they provide.

Go Deeper:

Outdated FCC radio rules hurt local stations ability to grow, giving an advantage to Big Tech platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and SiriusXM.

FCC rules limit the number of radio stations a company can provide in each community, depending on the size of that market.
In contrast, audio streaming services, such as Spotify, SiriusXM, Amazon and Apple, have no regulatory limits. They can – and do – reach 100% of national audiences.
These decades-old rules severely limit investment in radio, hindering stations’ ability to innovate, grow and provide more choices for consumers.

Policymakers need to act now to get rid of outdated radio regulations.

After years of inaction, policymakers finally lifted restrictions on TV stations owning local newspapers in 2017. But this came too late for the thousands of local newspapers who had already shuttered their doors. The result is that more than half of U.S. counties now have either no local newspaper or only one remaining print outlet.
A similar dynamic of inaction has plagued local radio rules, which don’t make sense in today’s competitive media landscape.
Eliminating these obsolete rules would allow local radio stations to attract investment, upgrade technology, better compete and increase the diversity of local news, sports and music.

The Bottom Line:

Local radio stations are at a critical juncture. Without immediate action to eliminate outdated, bureacratic rules, many stations risk shutting down, depriving communities of their only source of local news and emergency information. Policymakers must act swiftly to protect local radio and ensure choice and competition.