FCC chairman rejects senators' request to investigate Sinclair

["Dave Farber" <farber () gmail com>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne () warpspeed com>
> Date: April 13, 2018 at 3:59:30 AM EDT
> To: Multiple recipients of Dewayne-Net <dewayne-net () warpspeed com>
> Subject: [Dewayne-Net] FCC chairman rejects senators' request to investigate Sinclair
> Reply-To: dewayne-net () warpspeed com
>
> [Note:  This item comes from friend Mike Cheponis.  DLH]
>
> FCC chairman rejects senators' request to investigate Sinclair
> By BRETT SAMUELS
> Apr 12 2018
> <http://thehill.com/policy/technology/382902-fcc-chairman-rejects-senators-request-to-investigate-sinclair>
>
> Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai on Thursday rejected a request from a dozen senators to 
> investigate Sinclair Broadcast Group for “distorting news” coverage.
>
> The senators — 11 Democrats and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.) — asked the FCC to review Sinclair’s broadcast 
> license and pause its proposed merger after the company had anchors across the country read scripted promos warning 
> of “fake news” and media bias. 
>
> However, Pai turned down their request, saying an investigation would conflict with his commitment to the First 
> Amendment and freedom of the press, according to a letter obtained by The Hill. 
>
> “I understand that you disliked or disagreed with the content of particular broadcasts, but I can hardly think of an 
> action more chilling of free speech than the federal government investigating a broadcast station because of 
> disagreement with its news coverage,” Pai wrote. 
> He added that the FCC “does not have the authority to revoke a license of a broadcast station based on the content of 
> a particular newscast.”
>
> The letter was first obtained by Breitbart.
>
> Pai's response comes as the FCC is reviewing a proposed merger between Sinclair and Tribune Media. If approved, 
> Sinclair would own local news stations that reach nearly three-quarters of American households.
>
> It was reported in February that the FCC inspector general was looking into whether Pai improperly pushed through 
> rules in an effort to benefit Sinclair. Pai has denied wrongdoing.
>
> Democratic lawmakers and former employees have been critical of Sinclair in recent weeks after a clip went viral of 
> dozens of Sinclair anchors across the country simultaneously reading a scripted segment warning viewers of “fake 
> news” and media bias that poses an "extremely dangerous" threat to democracy.
>
> [snip]
>
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> Twitter: https://twitter.com/wa8dzp



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