PMCM Wants Clarity on Channel-Sharing Ownership Waivers
The FCC needs to clarify how it will treat requests for waivers of the multiple ownership rules in connection with channel sharing-arrangements for stations entering the reverse part of the broadcast incentive auction, said PMCM in a petition for clarification…
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and/or declaratory ruling posted in docket 12-268 Monday. Though the FCC indicated it might grant waivers allowing channel-sharing arrangements that violate media ownership rules, “the Commission has shed no light on the process by which any waiver request will be considered,” PMCM said. “As the March 29 deadline for initial commitments draws near, it is imperative that the Commission publicly clarify those matters.” It’s “inconceivable” that the FCC would let a station proceed all the way through the auction “only to deny it an essential waiver at the conclusion of that process,” PMCM said. “Consideration and disposition of waiver requests must occur prior to the initial commitment deadline. But that's less than a month away, and the Commission has yet to explain how it plans to address whatever waiver requests it has received.”