During his short term of office as chairman of the Federal Communications Commission , Ajit Pai has made so many destructive and controversial decision it ’s hard to keep up . However , hisdecisionto change broadcast TV possession rules , clearing the way for a massive accomplishment by the Sinclair Broadcast Group , has always been one of the shadiest . And it was apparently so shady that the FCC ’s inspector general has opened an investigation into any wrongdoing .
Sinclair is currently search approval for a proposed$3.9 billion acquisitionof Tribune Media that would put its stations in seven out of 10 US households . The deal raises concerns that this particular media blob would gut local TV news show reporting and place it in the helping hand of one all - controlling giant . Back in April , Pai ’s FCCchanged the rulesthat cap how much possession of local telly markets a single entity can own . Committees in both theHouseandSenatecalled for an investigation any unlawful striking between Pai and executives of Sinclair . grant toThe New York Times , that probe has actually been underway for some time . From the report :
By the end of the year , in a previously unrevealed move , the top internal watchdog for the F.C.C. open an probe into whether Mr. Pai and his aides had improperly pushed for the dominion change and whether they had time them to profit Sinclair , according to Representative Frank Pallone of New Jersey and two congressional aides .
[ … ]
It was unclear the extent of the inspector general ’s investigation or when it might close , but the research puts a spotlight on Mr. Pai ’s decisions and whether there had been coordination with the company . It may also impel him to answer questions that he has so far avoided addressing in world .
Pai ’s relationships with enceinte telecoms and sensitive companies have been the subject of scrutiny since he took over the agency , particularly his relationship with Verizon , for which heworked as a lawyerbefore joining the Union governance . In November , the Times published an investigation that chance Pai and his aides had numerous contacts with Sinclair leadership , and Pai himself met with the company ’s administrator chairwoman a few days before he deal on his newfangled role at the FCC .
It ’s not a good idea to put so much controller of local medium into the hands of any single corporation , but Sinclair has beenspecifically worrisomedue to its requirement that station air “ must - run ” bundle of pre - recorded content that promotes a button-down agendum . Former Trump spokesman Boris EpshtynbecameSinclair ’s master political analyst after leave behind the White House . And according to aPoliticoreport , the Trump campaign made a passel with Sinclair in 2016 that exchanged more access to the candidate in return for favorable reportage .
The FCC inspector general , David L. Hunt , was appointed to his position in2011under the Obama administration , so there ’s little rationality to think that he would hold any favourable bias toward Trump ’s cabinet members .
legion members of the government are the subject of various investigations at the moment , include the EPA’sScott Pruitt , Veterans Affairs SecretaryDavid Shulkinand his staff , and Interior SecretaryRyan Zinke . And of course , many members of the White House include the president himself are subjects of Robert Mueller ’s investigation into Russian election tampering and obstruction of Department of Justice . give in the recent resignation ofStaff Secretary Rob Porter , which has jell off a firestorm of worry over the 130 political appointees who still have n’t manage to get a certificate headroom , and it ’s quite seeming this administration has some staffing job .
We have no word on the status of the investigation of Chairman Pai , but in the unretentive full term , it could well complicate the FTC ’s review of the Sinclair deal . And would n’t that be a shame ?
UPDATE : The FCC Inspector General ’s office send this statement : “ Our long - stand policy is not to gloss on the existence , non - universe or status of an investigation . ”
[ The New York Times ]
Ajit PaiNet disinterest
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