The Desk reports…

A coalition of cable television and broadband Internet companies from nearly a dozen states have filed a formal petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) asking the agency to reconsider its decision to eliminate a long-standing rule that limits the number of broadcast TV and radio stations one company may own outright.

The filing was made this week by a group consisting of broadband and cable TV trade associations from states like Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan and Pennsylvania. The request calls for an administrative stay and injunction pending a judicial review of the matter — a strong indication that the groups, and others, are likely preparing a legal challenge to the FCC’s earlier decision to eliminate the national TV ownership cap.

In August, the FCC voted 2-1 along party lines to remove the ownership cap, which previously limited broadcasters to owning a collection of licensed TV stations that reach less than 40 percent of the American viewing population.

The measure had broad Republican support, with backing from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who said the elimination of the ownership rule was necessary to help broadcasters compete against streaming services and support their local news initiatives.

After more than a month of delays, the FCC formalized the act by publishing it on October 1. The rule change takes effect 60 days from the date it is published in the Federal Register.

But opponents of the move, including the cable TV and broadband groups, argue that the FCC exceeded its authority because Congress set the broadcast TV limitation through legislation.