NCTA: Sinclair's Detail-less Deal Reply Doesn't Cut It

NCTA-The Internet & Television Association, has told the Federal Communications Commission that Sinclair's response to the commission's request for more information on how it would comply with its rules in the Tribune merger were insufficient, and without that info the deal must be denied. That came in comments to the FCC filed Nov. 2. "Unless and until Sinclair presents a definitive plan for complying with the rules and the public has had an adequate opportunity to review and comment on that plan," NCTA said, "the Commission cannot approve this transaction and should immediately cease conducting its review." Sinclair suggested to analysts in an earnings call this week that it may do some station swaps rather than divestitures in some markets, and that it was premature to talk about divesting any stations. NCTA says that the FCC can't properly vet the deal until Sinclair says exactly how it will comply with the existing rules, not as they might be modified in the proposed media ownership deregulation item, though that deregulation is expected to be voted on and approved at the FCC's Nov. 16 meeting. "Sinclair should be required to show that it will comply with existing ownership rules without surreptitiously divesting stations to sidecars that they manage and control in all respects except on paper, or by carrying multiple 'top four' affiliate signals on the same broadcast station as multicast signals," NCTA said.