Tribune may make changes to media ownership waiver requests the bankrupt broadcaster and newspaper owner has sought from the FCC to exit Chapter 11, the company said. Changes would reflect developments in the proceeding in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, representatives of Tribune and some major creditors told Media Bureau staff. The court plans a confirmation hearing May 16-17 on a revised reorganization plan, an ex parte filing from a Tribune lawyer said. “Certain pro forma applications would be filed by Tribune as part of the emergence from bankruptcy to accomplish intra-company reorganizations,” and those requests will “be coordinated with the Exit Applications” for the commission, Thursday’s filing said (http://xrl.us/bmpy3o). Posted in docket 10-104, it reported on a meeting that also included former FCC Chairman Richard Wiley, representing JPMorgan Chase, and an attorney for Angelo, Gordon & Co. and Oaktree Tribune. The bureau’s review of Tribune’s reorganization has been slowed by changes to the deal, and the commission’s merger review clock (http://xrl.us/bmf3e6) is paused (CD Oct 14 p).
TV stations’ help was sought by a broadcast news association, so it can give the FCC examples of how industry would be affected by any requirement for the outlets to report to the agency on their local programming (CD Jan 10 p12). The Radio Television Digital News Association, seeking “vital member input” on the FCC’s notice of inquiry, asked members to fill out an online survey. “Your news staffs already are doing more with less,” Executive Director Mike Cavender and Kathy Kirby, a Wiley Rein lawyer representing the association, wrote on the RTDNA’s blog Friday (http://xrl.us/bmom8f). “If this reporting requirement change is implemented as it stands, even more work unrelated to news-gathering and reporting will be required."
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, doesn’t think he should have to ask congressional Commerce Committee chairmen to act as intermediaries in his ongoing standoff (CD Jan 6 p1) with FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski over access to documents related to the LightSquared proceeding, a Grassley spokeswoman said. Grassley, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is blocking a vote on the pending nominations of Jessica Rosenworcel and Ajit Pai to seats on the FCC because Genachowski has refused to provide the documents. Genachowski has argued that the FCC historically has honored document requests only from the chairman of committees with jurisdiction over the commission, and he has cited supporting guidance in the Congressional Research Service’s non-binding Congressional Oversight Manual.
President Barack Obama’s announcement Wednesday he was installing Richard Cordray as head of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau through a “recess appointment” could have big implications for the FCC. Industry and government officials said the resulting blow up over the Cordray appointment could provoke Senate Republicans to hold up votes on other nominees, and FCC nominees Jessica Rosenworcel and Ajit Pai could get caught in the crossfire.
Wiley Rein promotions, effective Jan. 1: Thomas McCarthy to partner in appellate and telecommunications practices; Mark Sweet to partner in white collar defense practice; Robert DeFrancesco to of counsel in international trade practice; Rebecca Saitta to of counsel in financial restructuring practice; Maureen Thorson to of counsel in international trade practice; Elbert Lin rejoined firm in November as partner in appellate and telecommunications practice after completing a clerkship with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas … Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner Larry Landis reappointed.
Richard Wiley becomes chairman of Wiley Rein, effective Jan. 1, with Peter Shields succeeding him as managing partner … Sean Lev, ex-Department of Energy, hired by FCC as deputy general counsel and special advisor to Chairman Julius Genachowski on the transition to Internet Protocol networks … Named chairs in Wiley Rein’s Telecommunications Group: Helgi Walker, Communications Appellate Group; Andrew McBride, Communications Litigation Group; David Gross, International Telecommunications Group; Jennifer Hindin, Satellite Group; Bennett Ross, Telephony Group; Nancy Victory, Wireless Group … David Wolkis promoted to vice president of production for TNT and TBS Originals.
*Dec. 12 Google Chair Eric Schmidt speaks at Economic Club of Washington, Ritz-Carlton Hotel -- 202-481-3260
A rule pending before the Office of Government Ethics, to limit government employee attendance at trade shows, could be bad news for associations as well as policymakers, government and industry officials told us. The proposed rule would end the practice of government employees being given free admission to commonly attended events, when the offer comes from groups that employ in-house lobbyists, from CTIA’s annual meeting to the CEA’s International CES.
Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., has recurring concerns about whether the FCC’s Universal Service Fund order, approved last month, does enough to spur the growth of wireless (CD Oct 28 p1), the vice chairman of the House Communications Subcommittee said Wednesday at a National Journal conference on the future of technology. Spectrum and regulatory reform largely dominated the discussions.
ST. LOUIS -- While some panelists at NARUC’s annual meeting see a continuing state role in a broadband world, others urged regulators to be mindful of market changes that have resulted in loss of revenue. And while some said they can live with the FCC’s Universal Service Fund order, others find it unacceptable.