Media Contact: 
Janice Wise
janice.wise@fcc.gov

For Immediate Release

FCC AMENDS RULES TO FACILITATE UPCOMING BROADCAST STATION CARRIAGE ELECTIONS
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WASHINGTON, November 17, 2022 – The Federal Communications Commission today amended its rules to ensure that TV broadcast stations and pay TV providers are using the same data to determine which stations are “local.”  

The Commission’s current rules require that television broadcast stations seeking carriage on a pay TV system must determine their local market by reference to the Nielsen annual Station Index Directory in combination with the Nielsen Station Index United States Television Household Estimates.  The Report and Order removes these now-outdated publications from our rules and replaces them with Nielsen’s monthly Local TV Station Information Report.  With the adoption of these rules, TV broadcast stations and pay TV providers will be able to determine a station’s local market, and ensure carriage of the signal to local subscribers, by referencing only this one publication.  

Action by the Commission November 17, 2022 by Report and Order (FCC 22-89).  Chairwoman Rosenworcel, Commissioners Carr, Starks, and Simington approving.  Chairwoman Rosenworcel issuing a separate statement.

MB Docket No. 22-239

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This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).