NCTA Seeks Regulatory 'Guardrails' on Sinclair/Tribune

NCTA-The Internet & Television Association, has stopped short of seeking outright denial of the Sinclair/Tribune merger, but it has major problems with it and suggests the Federal Communications Commission should consider disallowing new duopolies, even where they don't violate rules, and joint retransmission negotiations among commonly owned Sinclair/Tribune stations. That came in its response this week to Sinclair's lengthy defense of the public interest benefits filed with the FCC Aug. 22. NCTA says the FCC should, at a minimum, review the deal under current media ownership limits, not hoped-for changes to the rules, and "consider" conditions based on "past conduct and unprecedented size."