FCC Should Overturn WWOR Waiver, Public Interest Groups Say

Fox Television Stations’ opposition to applications for review by public interest groups against a waiver of the newspaper/broadcast cross-ownership (NBCO) rule is based on a misunderstanding of FCC rules, said the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition and United Church of Christ in a reply filing posted in docket 07-260 Monday. The waiver was granted in August (see 1408110046) to allow Fox to continue to own WWOR-TV Secaucus, New Jersey, and the New York Post. In an opposition filing posted last week, Fox said it has never violated the NBCO rule, and its FCC waiver is temporary, in alignment with agency rules, rather than a “de facto permanent waiver,” as the groups have claimed. Fox’s arguments are “based largely on Fox’s unsupported assumption that the FCC’s failure to act on a request for a waiver extension is equivalent to granting the request,” said the public interest groups. “Because Fox’s position is highly contested and the issue remains unresolved, the Commission should reverse the Order and decide this important question of law."