Sinclair Trib FCC Comment Deadline

The FCC’s comment filing deadline draws nigh (July 12th) concerning the merger of Sinclair Broadcasting and Trib Media. At the time of this post there had been only 64 comments filed with the FCC. Of course, it is not just quantity but quality that matters, right? Among the filers are such organizations as Common Cause, the ACLU, the American Cable Association, a partnership of multiple trade unions and a handful of our fellow citizens. Anyone can comment simply go to the FCC website, www.fcc.gov and file under docket number 17-179.

The few comments from individual filers are what you would expect. Liberals who want to vent their fears. Doubtful the FCC cares that someone says “Sinclair is in the tank for Trump.” One disgruntled Trib Media employee in New York submitted a long accusation that Trib Media is broadcasting ads as news, a form or payola. It certainly is more interesting reading than the usual liberal bile and should be investigated; but, the issue before the FCC is not the business practices of Trib-Media but rather whether Sinclair Broadcasting should be allowed to purchase Trib-Media.

The out-going Attorney General of Illinois in partnership with the AG’s of Iowa and Rhode Island filed a thirty-one page legal document opposing the merger based on many factors including size of the combined company and conflicts with past FCC decisions. It is similar to comments filed by other organizations such as the American Television Alliance. Whether the FCC finds it cogent is moot but it could serve as the basis of a Court challenge.

What is disappointing is the lack of interest in Chicago, other than the State Attorney General, in how the merger impacts Chicago. As in past battles over a Chicago asset, Chicago remains benighted and uninvolved.