Broadcasters 'Wholly Satisfied' Locast's Met Lawsuit Settlement Terms

National broadcasters said Tuesday they’re “wholly satisfied” that shuttered rebroadcaster Locast has transferred “all of its physical assets” and certain intellectual property and has paid the entirety of its remaining cash assets, as agreed in an October lawsuit settlement (see 2110280039). The satisfaction of judgment statement (docket 19-cv-7136) cites the original $32 million settlement figure rather than the lower $700,000 figure included in a confidential revised settlement (see 2201260056) that became a central issue in Democratic FCC nominee Gigi Sohn’s stalled confirmation process. Senate Commerce Committee Republicans said last week after a second confirmation hearing for Sohn that the nominee still hasn't been sufficiently candid about whether she played a role as a board member for Locast operator Sports Fans Coalition in securing the revised settlement (see 2202090070). Locast, Sohn and broadcasters involved in the lawsuit didn’t comment. Senate IP Subcommittee ranking member Thom Tillis, R-N.C., urged his colleagues during a Tuesday floor speech to vote against Sohn, arguing she’s still “hiding relevant information” about the Locast settlement. If confirmed Sohn “would undermine public confidence in the FCC and our government,” Tillis said. “If this were any other nominee, especially a Republican nominee, any one of these issues would be enough for my colleagues on this side of the aisle to stand up and as the president of our party to withdraw the nominee.”