NASA, a coalition of 600 television stations, last week asked the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. to overturn the FCC’s new 45 percent broadcast station ownership cap established on June 2.
The Network Affiliated Stations Alliance (NASA) charges that the rules are “arbitrary, capricious and otherwise not in accordance with law.” The group fears the new cap will give the networks too much power over local affiliates. The networks, on the other hand, say they need to own more stations to remain viable in the face of competition from cable and satellite TV.
In another filing with the same court, the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) appealed parts of the new FCC rules dealing with broadcast duopolies and radio ownership. Media General and the Media Access Project also filed petitions opposing part or all of the FCC’s new rules.
