Washington has forced local television stations to compete in a 21st-century media market under rules written for the 20th century. Local television still matters. More than half of U.S. television stations operate at a loss even as they continue providing essential public service. They want to upgrade transmission systems, strengthen emergency alerts, expand local journalism, and deploy next-generation broadcast technology. During hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and other disasters, local broadcasters provide information that can save lives.