Top House Commerce Dems Seek Answers From Pai on FCC's Sinclair-Related Actions

House Commerce Committee ranking member Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and two other House Democrats in top FCC oversight roles warned FCC Chairman Ajit Pai Monday they are concerned restoration of the UHF discount and other commission actions since his chairmanship began in January may indicate a “pattern of preferential treatment” for Sinclair. House Communications Subcommittee ranking member Mike Doyle, D-Pa., and House Commerce Oversight Subcommittee ranking member Diana DeGette, D-Colo., also signed Pallone’s letter to Pai. They also asked Pai whether his office engaged in “inappropriate coordination” with Sinclair, President Donald Trump’s administration and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. They cited the FCC process for evaluating Sinclair’s proposed buy of Tribune, commission’s earlier approval of Sinclair’s $240 million purchase of TV stations from Bonten Media (see 1707050042) and the ATSC 3.0 standard NPRM as pro-Sinclair actions. Sinclair owns 12 patents related to the standard. The lawmakers sought answers from Pai by Aug. 28 on a range of questions about the FCC’s Sinclair/Tribune evaluation process and the ATSC 3.0 NPRM, including whether “any White House official in the current Administration discussed Sinclair at all with you.” The lawmakers also sought any correspondence between Pai’s office and Sinclair. Pai said during a late July House Communications FCC oversight hearing that no one in the Trump administration contacted the commission about pending media transactions and the UHF discount reinstatement and other FCC actions are aimed at the whole market rather than any specific company (see 1707250059). "These FCC rulemakings apply to the entire broadcast industry, not just us," said Sinclair Senior Vice President-Legal Affairs Rebecca Hanson in a statement. The FCC didn't comment.