A rule eliminating the UHF discount isn’t likely...

26 open meeting (CD Sept 10 p5), and Ryvicker said it’s likely to be set for at least a 30-day comment period and a two- to three-week reply comment period before a final ruling. “It sounds like this document is a pretty thick one with a lot of over-arching questions, which means final adoption wouldn’t occur until 2014,” Ryvicker said. The way the proposed changes to the 39 percent ownership cap would treat pending deals is still uncertain, but it’s unlikely to apply to them, said the email. “The most likely scenario is for pending deals to be granted as long as the new combo comes into compliance with the final rules, and it sounds like any broadcaster over the cap would get substantial time to divest any necessary stations,” said Ryvicker. Time constraints are also likely to push the spectrum incentive auction to 2015, said the email. “A 2014 auction seems unrealistic at this point, given several outstanding issues and the fact that Commissioner [Tom] Wheeler has yet to be confirmed,” Ryvicker said. A 2015 auction is “more realistic,” she said. The commission’s media ownership proceeding is “stuck,” she said. There won’t be changes to the rules governing shared service agreements “for years to come” and ownership proposals submitted by former Chairman Julius Genachowski “seem to have been tabled,” Ryvicker said. Changes to retransmission consent regulations are also unlikely to occur soon, she said. “With the [retrans dispute between CBS and Time Warner Cable] resolved, Congress does not feel compelled to get involved,” said Ryvicker, saying the conflict in Syria likely supersedes retrans and most other issues facing legislators. Proposals to reform retransmission consent put forward by Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. (CD Sept 10 p6), are unlikely to pass, Ryvicker said.