Newsmax has filed a formal objection with the FCC, calling on the agency to preserve the national television ownership cap. In a detailed 33-page filing, the independent media company strongly opposed any move to relax or eliminate the Horizontal Ownership Cap, warning such changes would harm local journalism and reduce viewpoint diversity.
The FCC is currently reviewing the rule, which bars a single broadcaster from reaching more than 39% of U.S. households. The agency opened the door for public comment last month as part of a broader media ownership review. Newsmax’s response is one of the most forceful yet.
“Americans of every political persuasion, demographic, and location would be harmed by any weakening of the national ownership limit,” the filing reads. Newsmax insists the cap is essential to maintaining competition, localism, and a diversity of voices in broadcasting.
CEO Christopher Ruddy signed the filing personally, warning that raising or removing the cap would allow major players like CBS, NBC, and ABC to dominate even more local markets — pushing out smaller, independent outlets. Ruddy argued this could create “less incentive to produce programming that reflects the values of local communities.”
The filing cites the rule’s history, noting it was originally set under President Reagan and codified by Congress in 2004. Newsmax claims the FCC lacks the legal authority to alter the cap without legislative action, invoking the Supreme Court’s “Major Questions Doctrine.”
“There could be no greater ‘basic and fundamental change’ to a limit set by Congress than abolishing it altogether,” the company wrote.
Newsmax also took direct aim at Fox Corporation and Nexstar Media Group, accusing both of leveraging market dominance to suppress rivals. It claims Fox pressured pay-TV providers to drop Newsmax, while Nexstar allegedly used its station reach to boost its struggling NewsNation brand.
The filing ends with a stark warning: “The FCC must reject any proposal to raise or remove the cap — not just to honor congressional law, but to defend America’s media landscape from monopolization and political manipulation.”
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