How far will the FCC pursue Sinclair Broadcasting’s “misrepresentations” now that President Trump has intervened?

It is heartening to see the Federal Communications Commission’s unanimous decision to designate the $3.9 billion Sinclair Broadcasting acquisition of Tribune Media for administrative review. Although unaccustomed to praising the Trump FCC, I believe this is an excellent decision. What happens next is worrisome, however, especially since President Donald Trump decided to tweet about the FCC’s decision. The tweet would seem to signal to Sinclair not to withdraw the transaction (a typical reaction to a designation for a hearing). The Trump tweet not only makes the FCC’s job adjudicating the matter even more complicated; the President’s inappropriate, out-of-channels involvement possibly taints the whole proceeding. Only the Trump FCC knows whether we are watching an administrative smokescreen, designed to save 39 stations for a rabidly pro-Trump broadcaster while ignoring the company’s eligibility to hold any licenses. Thus far, the Trump FCC has been a master of Orwellian double-speak, saying one thing while doing the opposite. Let’s hope we are not hearing such double-speak once again.

[Tom Wheeler is a former chairman of the FCC]