Siding with Mediacom in its emergency carriage complaint would ma...

McDowell. Sinclair also spoke with Heather Dixon, Chmn. Martin’s aide on media issues, and Krista Witanowski, attorney advisor in the office of strategic planning, and with several Media Bureau officials. Sinclair told Mediacom it must stop retransmitting its stations’ signals Dec. 1 unless Mediacom agrees to pay a significant carriage fee. Mediacom sued Sinclair, alleging Sherman Act violations in their negotiating tactics, and lodged a similar complaint with the FCC. Mediacom wants the FCC to let it carry Sinclair’s broadcasts while it reviews the case. Such a move would “re-write the entire body of retransmission consent law,” Sinclair said. Meanwhile, in a small win for Mediacom, a U.S. Dist. Court, Des Moines, judge ruled Mon. against Sinclair’s motion to delay that court case while a higher court hears Mediacom’s appeal of its failed motion for preliminary injunction. Sinclair has 30 days to file and answer to Mediacom’s complaint. Mediacom also visited the 8th Floor Mon. CEO Rocco Commisso and others met with Comr. Adelstein and an aide, showing them materials Sinclair presented to investors at a recent conference, ex parte filings show. The materials project Sinclair making $25 million-plus in retransmission consent fees in 2006. Mediacom has had meetings with all the commissioners’ offices, a spokesman said. Additionally, the Cable TV Assn. of Ga. and the Ky. Cable Telecom Assn. urged the Commission to grant Mediacom’s request.