Pallone, Cummings Urge FCC IG Investigation on Sinclair-Related Actions
House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and House Oversight Committee ranking member Elijah Cummings, D-Md., jointly called Monday for FCC Inspector General David Hunt to launch an investigation into the commission’s recent actions on media policy issues that…
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the congressmen believe “improperly benefit” Sinclair and its proposed purchase of Tribune. Pallone and other congressional Democrats have repeatedly criticized the majority-Republican FCC and Chairman Ajit Pai for their actions to revamp media rules, including April restoration of the UHF discount (see 1707250059, 1708140058, 1709280056, 1710250050 and 1711070029). Commissioners are expected to vote Thursday on a draft order on media ownership reconsideration and authorization of ATSC 3.0 (see 1710250049 and 1711100003). Pai’s failure to “adequately respond” to Democrats’ inquiries on the FCC’s Sinclair-related actions, including requests for all correspondence between Pai’s office and Sinclair, “only increase our concerns,” Pallone and Cummings said in a letter to Hunt. Pai told Pallone and other top House Commerce Democrats in September the FCC didn’t give Sinclair/Tribune special treatment (see 1709190060). Pallone and Cummings said several media rules actions raise “serious concerns” about whether Pai is complying “with the FCC’s mandate to be independent,” including the pending November vote on media ownership reconsideration, the October vote to eliminate the main studio rule (see 1710240062) and July approval of Sinclair’s $240 million buy of TV stations from Bonten Media (see 1707050042). The IG’s investigation should examine whether FCC actions under Pai “show a pattern and practice of preferential treatment for Sinclair,” and whether interactions between Pai’s office, President Donald Trump’s administration and Sinclair “demonstrate inappropriate coordination,” Pallone and Cummings said. The investigation request “appears to be part of many Democrats’ attempt to target one particular company because of its perceived political views” given a 2004 bid by Pallone, House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and others demanding an FCC investigation ahead of Sinclair’s potential airing that year of the Stolen Honor documentary that criticized then-Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry’s Vietnam war record (see report in the Oct. 14, 2004, issue), a spokeswoman said. She said Pai is “sticking to his long-held views” on the need to revamp media ownership rules, and “given the strong case for modernizing these rules, it's not surprising that that those who disagree with him would prefer to do whatever they can to distract from the merits of his proposals.” Sinclair didn't comment.