FCC Still Considering Crossownership Deadline Request

The Federal Communications Commission has extended the deadline for pending waiver applications, amendments and renewal applications related to its newspaper-broadcast crossownership rules filed by a number of broadcasters. Cox Enterprises, Calvary Inc., Bonneville, Scranton Times LP and Morris Communications all sought to have the deadlines for those requests and filings moved until 90 days after the Third Circuit Court of Appeals issues a final order on its review of challenges to the FCC's most recent ownership rule revise. The FCC Friday granted a shorter stay -- until Aug. 10. 2009 -- while it considers the request for the 90-days-past-court decision stay. The agency made it clear this stay was not being granted related to the merits of the stay request, but was just to give the commission more time to consider that request.