Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has launched a formal inquiry into Comcast and NBCUniversal, citing rising concerns about the network's treatment of local broadcast affiliates and potential violations of federal regulations.
The move marks a significant step toward reasserting federal oversight in a broadcasting landscape increasingly dominated by national conglomerates.
In a letter sent today to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts, Carr noted that he directed the FCC's Media Bureau to examine the network's affiliate agreements and determine whether Comcast's practices undermine the independence and public service obligations of local stations.
Carr's decision follows complaints from multiple local broadcast station groups that have alleged that major networks — including NBC and other top broadcasters — are using coercive tactics in negotiations for renewal of their affiliation agreements.
These include threats to terminate long-standing affiliations unless stations accept stringent financial and operational terms, as well as restrictions on digital carriage and local content decisions.
A Tipping Point for Localism
"For years, the FCC has stepped away from enforcing critical regulations designed to protect localism," Carr wrote. "This retreat has encouraged large national programmers like Comcast to exert more control over licensed local broadcast stations, eroding the ability of local media to serve their communities."
Carr's comments underscore a growing tension between national content producers and local broadcasters — an imbalance that industry watchdogs say threatens the fundamental purpose of local TV: to reflect and inform the communities they serve.
The FCC chairman's inquiry seeks to determine whether Comcast's practices violate commission rules regarding affiliate independence.
These rules prohibit network contracts that interfere with a station's right to reject unsuitable programming or prevent stations from making independent scheduling decisions based on local needs.
Carr also referenced NBCUniversal's streaming service Peacock and the company's broader media ecosystem — including cable, streaming, and owned-and-operated stations — as contributing factors that raise potential conflicts with local affiliates' public interest obligations.
Local Stations Raise the Alarm
Carr's inquiry reflects mounting frustration among local station owners who feel increasingly sidelined in a media environment where streaming dominance and corporate consolidation have taken precedence over community reporting.
Several affiliate station groups, both independent and part of regional ownership chains, have reported growing pressure from networks like NBC, ABC, and CBS during renewal talks. These include significantly higher fees, content blocks, refusal to allow local programming during prime time, and limitations on digital distribution through services such as virtual multichannel video programming distributors.
One industry executive familiar with the issue said, "Affiliates are being strong-armed into accepting terms that reduce their editorial independence and tie their hands when it comes to covering news that matters to their local audiences."
The situation has deteriorated to the point where some local stations face blackouts or the loss of network affiliations — moves that hurt station revenue and disrupt viewers' access to news, sports, and emergency information.
Trust Gap Widens Between National and Local Media
Carr's letter pointed to a deepening trust gap between national and local media as another impetus for the inquiry.
Citing a 2024 Gallup poll, he noted that only 31% of Americans say they trust the mass media, including national news outlets like NBC — an all-time low. By contrast, local media continue to command relatively higher trust and engagement, especially across ideological lines.
"Americans still value local journalism and believe their local news outlets are doing a good job," Carr wrote. "That's why it's crucial that local stations maintain the independence necessary to operate in the public interest."
He also cited comments by Jeff Bezos, owner of The Washington Post, who last year lamented that journalism as a profession has become "the least trusted of all" — an indictment Carr suggested should spur greater scrutiny of centralized media control.
Next Steps for the FCC
Carr has instructed the FCC's Media Bureau to collect and analyze Comcast's affiliate agreements with both NBC and Telemundo stations.
This review will examine compliance with federal rules on operational independence, programming control, and network affiliation terms.
If violations are found, the FCC could move to impose new conditions, fines, or regulatory mandates to protect local broadcasters.
Though Comcast is the initial focus of this probe, Carr indicated that the issue is industrywide.
Comcast Responds
As of press time, Comcast had not issued a formal response to Carr's letter.
Newsmax requested comment from multiple corporate contacts at Comcast but did not receive an immediate response.
However, industry analysts anticipate that the company will defend its affiliate practices as standard industry protocol while likely questioning the legal basis for renewed FCC scrutiny.
Still, local broadcasters and media advocacy groups have welcomed Carr's move as a long-overdue intervention.
"This is exactly the kind of leadership we've needed from the FCC for years," said a representative from a coalition of independent stations. "National networks should not be allowed to squeeze local newsrooms out of existence."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.