Tribune’s suit against the FCC was put on hold Wednesday by the U...
Tribune’s suit against the FCC was put on hold Wednesday by the U.S. Appeals Court for the District of Columbia Circuit. The case will held in abeyance until the FCC acts on petitions for reconsideration of FCC approval of…
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Tribune’s $8 billion sale to Sam Zell and employees, said a court order. It ordered the agency to file status reports every 60 days. Tribune sued the FCC over agency enforcement of a ban on a single company owning a daily newspaper and radio or TV station in the same market (CD Dec 7 p12). In putting the case on hold, the court granted a request by the Media Alliance and United Church of Christ, Media Access Project President Andrew Schwartzman, representing the groups, said. They contend the court can’t hear the case because it only has jurisdiction when the commission blocks a license transfer. The agency approved the deal 3-2 Nov. 30. The court’s request for more information on jurisdiction is “quite significant” and “indicates that it considers the question non-frivolous and worthy of oral argument,” said Schwartzman. A Tribune spokesman declined to comment.