Rosenworcel Cites Newsmax Concerns on Sinclair/Tribune; Worries About ATSC 3.0 'Tax'

Jessica Rosenworcel in her first policy speech since rejoining the FCC as a member Aug. 11 expressed concerns Thursday on Sinclair's buy of Tribune Media, the transition by TV stations to ATSC 3.0 and her agency's course on net neutrality. "I am concerned the Commission is gearing up to approve a transaction that will hand a single broadcast company the unprecedented ability to reach more than 70 percent of American households," she said of the deal worth about $4 billion. She called current 3.0 plans "not a great boon for consumers, it’s a tax on every household" with a TV.

"This new standard is not backwards-compatible" and initially, the "cost of implementing it will be added to consumer cable and satellite bills. In the longer term, it means everyone will need to buy a new television set," Rosenworcel told the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Thursday morning, said prepared remarks. "It’s time for the Commission to go back to the drawing board and find a way to smooth the transition to this new standard in a way that better serves the public interest."

On Sinclair/Tribune, the Democrat cited concerns by Newsmax; the conservative news network has been meeting with FCC officials including Chairman Ajit Pai to share such concerns. "There is opposition across the political spectrum," Rosenworcel said. Though 3.0 leaves much to be excited about, she fears "the agency is
about to rush this standard to market without understanding the consequences for consumers." On net neutrality, she said the regulator "has started a proceeding that tears at the legal foundation of net neutrality."

Representatives of the FCC, NAB and Sinclair didn't comment in the minutes after Rosenworcel's speech.