Tom DeLay disputes Trump FCC's authority to repeal 39% TV ownership cap

Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay is challenging the Trump-era FCC's claim that it has the authority to eliminate the 39% national television ownership cap. DeLay argues the limit carries special weight because it was explicitly written into law by Congress, not simply established by the FCC as a regulatory rule. The 39% cap restricts how large a share of the national TV audience a single broadcast company can reach. DeLay, who was instrumental in getting Congress to codify the limit, contends that only Congress — not the FCC — has the power to repeal it. The dispute raises broader questions about the boundaries of regulatory agency authority versus legislative intent.