Cable lobby groups have informed the Federal Communications Commission that they intend to sue to block the repeal of the National Television Ownership Rule, which limits the number of broadcast TV stations a single company may own.

The cable groups argue that larger broadcast TV station groups will demand higher retransmission fees, resulting in increased monthly TV bills for consumers. They claim the FCC’s repeal order fails to address potential harms that may arise from lifting the ownership cap.

These cable lobby groups represent major providers such as Comcast and Charter, which have expanded through mergers. The cable companies argue that the FCC’s move to eliminate the TV ownership rule undermines competition and consumer protection.

The FCC voted to repeal the rule on August 6th, but published the order on its website on October 1st after an unusually long delay. This delay suggests the FCC is strengthening its legal arguments in preparation for potential lawsuits, as it is claiming authority to repeal a limit set by Congress over 20 years ago.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has stated that the new system of case-by-case review of each proposed merger will allow the agency to promote the public interest while rejecting deals that do not, but critics argue this could lead to selective enforcement and the FCC being used as a tool to influence news coverage.