The FCC will vote whether to eliminate the UHF discount at commissioners' April 20 meeting, as expected (see 1703070055). They will take up two public media issues -- third-party fundraising, and reversing a rule approved under the previous FCC that would require public media board members to submit personal identification information, said the tentative agenda. Broadcasters anticipated UHF discount’s restoration since Ajit Pai took over the agency, and the item originally was expected in March (see 1703010074). In a blog post, Pai said one reason to restore the discount is that the way the FCC eliminated it is vulnerable to litigation, and he pledged to launch “a comprehensive review” of the national ownership cap “later this year.” The draft text of each item was released Thursday, in keeping with the chairman's transparency plans.
Entercom and CBS Radio filed applications with the FCC for approval of Entercom’s all-stock buy of CBS (see 1702020070), show FCC and SEC filings. As part of deal approval, Entercom agreed to divest stations in seven markets, and the companies are asking the FCC for a six-month waiver of the TV/radio cross-ownership rules to allow CBS CEO Les Moonves and CBS Chief Operating Officer Joseph Ianniello to sit on the Entercom board (see 1703210041), said an SEC filing. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2017, Entercom said.
Congressional Democrats see no reason to back off in trying to get a more specific answer from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai about President Donald Trump's slamming certain outlets as “the enemy of the people” and a top administration adviser's saying media should "keep its mouth shut," lawmakers told us. Senate Commerce Committee Democrats raised the question during last week’s oversight hearing (see 1703080070), sent a letter to Pai demanding answers by Friday, and want a reconfirmation hearing to quiz Pai further. Observers laud Pai's record on free press, although public interest officials said he needs to speak definitively.
Congressional Democrats see no reason to back off in trying to get a more specific answer from FCC Chairman Ajit Pai about President Donald Trump's slamming certain outlets as “the enemy of the people” and a top administration adviser's saying media should "keep its mouth shut," lawmakers told us. Senate Commerce Committee Democrats raised the question during last week’s oversight hearing (see 1703080070), sent a letter to Pai demanding answers by Friday, and want a reconfirmation hearing to quiz Pai further. Observers laud Pai's record on free press, although public interest officials said he needs to speak definitively.
In early days for the new Ajit Pai chairmanship, Senior Counsel Nick Degani has emerged as a key player behind the scenes, with a hand in most important policy developments, said FCC and industry officials in recent interviews. Meanwhile, Pai is getting mostly high marks for taking a very detailed approach to the job, consistent with how his office operated before he was elevated to the chairmanship in January. Pai is a former associate FCC general counsel, while Pai Chief of Staff Matthew Berry was general counsel.
In early days for the new Ajit Pai chairmanship, Senior Counsel Nick Degani has emerged as a key player behind the scenes, with a hand in most important policy developments, said FCC and industry officials in recent interviews. Meanwhile, Pai is getting mostly high marks for taking a very detailed approach to the job, consistent with how his office operated before he was elevated to the chairmanship in January. Pai is a former associate FCC general counsel, while Pai Chief of Staff Matthew Berry was general counsel.
While the FCC has just three commissioners, their monthly meetings are the only method Chairman Ajit Pai has to force a vote, former and current officials told us. The regulator has a “must-vote” rule to keep commissioners from stalling an item by refusing to vote on it. It's triggered by having three commissioners vote for an item, and thus won’t apply to a three-member commission, FCC officials said. Some said the practical effects of this are likely to be small, but others aren't so sure.
While the FCC has just three commissioners, their monthly meetings are the only method Chairman Ajit Pai has to force a vote, former and current officials told us. The regulator has a “must-vote” rule to keep commissioners from stalling an item by refusing to vote on it. It's triggered by having three commissioners vote for an item, and thus won’t apply to a three-member commission, FCC officials said. Some said the practical effects of this are likely to be small, but others aren't so sure.
President Donald Trump and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai met Monday, the first known dialogue since they assumed their positions -- a contact between a president and a head of an independent agency that is seen as infrequent. They met in January during the transition period, ahead of Pai’s appointment as head of the agency (see 1701170025). Monday's meeting was at 3 p.m. in the Oval Office, according to Trump’s schedule. Former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler came under fire during the last Congress amid accusations that he took direction from the White House on the open internet order, a charge he denied.
President Donald Trump and FCC Chairman Ajit Pai met Monday, the first known dialogue since they assumed their positions -- a contact between a president and a head of an independent agency that is seen as infrequent. They met in January during the transition period, ahead of Pai’s appointment as head of the agency (see 1701170025). Monday's meeting was at 3 p.m. in the Oval Office, according to Trump’s schedule. Former FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler came under fire during the last Congress amid accusations that he took direction from the White House on the open internet order, a charge he denied.