Commissioner O'Rielly Remarks at 2018 NAB Show

The Federal Communications Commission has historically been over-obsessed and too reliant on the belief that the number of broadcast voices in a market is directly tied or correlated to the issue of license ownership, which is a false assumption. I firmly believe that our ownership rules have not worked. It’s why I was so pleased to support the Chairman’s order [in 2017] to eliminate some of these rules.

When I advocate for eliminating Commission regulations, I do not mean to suggest the end of the unique community service that make your services different. I’ve simply met enough of you to know that localism is a value you will continue with or without our mandates. Not only does localism drive audience share, but it is ingrained in every broadcaster I have met. During times of emergencies, it is the local broadcaster that always answers the call. Moreover, there is no one who highlights an issue in a community, or drives fundraising for a local cause, more than the local broadcaster. Thank goodness for you!