TAB Responds to FCC’s Call to Streamline Regulations

posted on 4.14.2025

- Outlines Key Goals for FCC’s “DeleteX3” Effort

TAB this week identified a handful of matters for FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to consider addressing in his deregulatory effort dubbed “Delete, delete, delete”, primarily multiple decades-old rules that are no longer needed because of changes in the marketplace, technology or the commission’s own practices.

The comments, prepared by TAB’s FCC legal counsel, Scott Flick with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, encourage the FCC to abandon its paperwork-intensive “strict liability” approach to enforcing broadcast rules.

In addition, TAB recommended the commission eliminate the many unnecessary paperwork and other obligations related to:

• the Public Inspection File, including Quarterly Issues-Programs lists,
• rules regarding recruiting, hiring and promoting broadcast employees,
• the reporting of station contracts, and
• the reporting of each children’s television program episode preemption.

The comments also urged the FCC to eliminate the biennial ownership report filing requirement, and to provide greater flexibility to broadcasters in meeting their growing Political File obligations.

READ THE COMMENTS

More than 40 other state broadcast associations signed onto the joint comments.

Flick and his partners also are litigating TAB’s appeal of the FCC’s reinstatement of Form 395-B regarding the collection and public reporting of personal information about broadcast employees, presenting oral arguments to the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in February.  A ruling is pending.
 
The NAB also submitted comments in Carr’s deregulatory proceeding that focus primarily on updating the commission’s Television and Radio ownership rules which have scarcely changed in the past 50 years.

The comments align with a bipartisan letter from the U.S. House of Representatives sent to Carr in late March supporting the Chairman’s interest in modernizing the FCC’s antiquated ownership rules which prevent local broadcasters from competing with unregulated media platforms.

Of the 72 members of Congress signing on, Texas led the country in the number of supporters with eight co-signers after a TAB delegation of broadcasters met with 36 of the state’s 38 members, including:

• Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo
• Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Flower Mound
• Rep. Craig Goldman, R-Fort Worth
• Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio
• Rep. Julie Johnson, D-Dallas
• Rep. Nathaniel Moran, R-Tyler
• Rep. August Pfluger, R-San Angelo
• Rep. Randy Weber, R-Friendswood

Gill serves on the House Judiciary Committee, while Goldman and Pfluger serve on the Telecommunications Subcommittee of the House Energy & Commerce Committee.

Both panels share oversight of issues pertaining to the broadcast industry.

Questions? Contact Oscar Rodriguez or call (512) 322-9944.

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