The Federal Communications Commission has voted to eliminate the National Television Ownership Rule, which limits a single owner to reach no more than 39 percent of US TV households. Chairman Brendan Carr claims the FCC has the authority to repeal this rule, which was established by Congress over 20 years ago. He asserts that replacing the rule with a case-by-case review will allow the FCC to approve mergers that serve the public interest. Carr also stated that removing the cap will enable broadcasters to better compete with streaming services. However, Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez voted against the decision, arguing that the FCC lacks the authority to change a congressional mandate. Gomez highlighted that former FCC officials and lawmakers involved in creating the rule agree that only Congress can alter it. She further contended that eliminating the ownership cap will harm local broadcasters. Gomez believes that consolidation driven by large media corporations will negatively impact local reporting and public safety functions. Instead of protecting communities, she argues, this change will simply shift the pressure from tech giants to major media conglomerates.