Democratic FCC Commissioners Blast Sinclair Settlement as ‘Abdication of Responsibility’

Democratic commissioners Jessica Rosenworcel and Geoffrey Starks have blasted the Federal Communications Commission’s Republican majority for approving a record $48 million fine against Sinclair Broadcast Group that opponents say allows the broadcast giant to avoid tougher scrutiny of its actions. On May 6, the FCC disclosed an agreement with Sinclair that settles three ongoing investigations into its actions and calls for the company to abide by the terms of a 17-page consent decree that was released May 22. Sinclair critics say that even with the high fine, the settlement lets Sinclair off the hook easy. The company had been in danger of facing challenges to its right to own broadcast licenses, in light of the conduct that prompted the FCC probes. 

The FCC’s formal order, released May 22, goes so far as to assert that Sinclair used a “good faith interpretation” of FCC rules in question in the investigation involving Sinclair’s effort to acquire Tribune Media. That finding was a surprise to Sinclair watchers given FCC Chairman Ajit Pai’s remarks on May 6 when news of the settlement was first released. “Sinclair’s conduct during its attempt to merge with Tribune was completely unacceptable,” Pai said on May 6. The formal order released May 22 states that Sinclair disclosed additional information during the long probe that demonstrated its effort to comply with FCC rules. Commissioners Starks and Rosenworcel blasted their commission colleagues for what they described as a closed-door process that did not subject Sinclair to the kind of public scrutiny warranted by its behavior.