Pai Defends Media Ownership and 3.0 Actions in Letter to Eshoo

Reviewing broadcaster requests to own top-four duopolies on a case-by-case basis better reflects the media market and provides a clearer procedure than the general waiver process, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai said in a letter last month and recently released to Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., declining to postpone approval of the media ownership reconsideration order (see 1711160054) and ATSC 3.0 (see 1711160060). Both items were approved 3-2 at commissioners' November meeting. Eshoo’s request for delay was denied because both items serve the public interest, Pai said. He defended provisions in the 3.0 order that sunset the requirement that 1.0 simulcasts be substantially similar to broadcaster's 3.0 feeds and that low-power TV stations are exempt from simulcasting requirements. LPTV stations would have a hard time finding simulcast partners, so ending the substantially similar provision after five years won’t end broadcaster obligations to simulcast, Pai said. “The Commission will decide in a future proceeding whether and, if so, when it would be appropriate for broadcasters to stop simulcasting in ATSC 1.0.”