O'Rielly Uses FCC Blog to Refute Sinclair Critics; Lengthy Defense Includes ATSC 3.0
In what some called an unusual move, FCC Commissioner Mike O'Rielly used the agency's blog Friday to defend each of the commission's media regulations under Chairman Ajit Pai against criticism that such actions are benefiting Sinclair. Recounting a trip last week to the Pearl TV-led ATSC 3.0 model-market project in Phoenix (see 1805090082), O'Rielly fleshed out his view that the Pai-led commission isn't trying to help only Sinclair, but broadcasters overall when circumstances dictate.
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In Phoenix, O'Rielly noted, none of the 12 participating stations in the 3.0 model-market project are owned by Sinclair. The company wants the OK to buy Tribune in a deal opposed by anti-consolidation advocates and some aligned with the political right. O'Rielly said he will back changing the current national TV ownership cap (see 1804240072).
"There is a false narrative in Washington, DC, that ATSC 3.0 will only benefit one particular company" and "everything the Commission has done in the media space over the last 17 months has been to benefit one company," read the more than 2,100-word post. "This misguided fantasy is perplexing to other broadcast stations across the country that have seen real benefits to our actions." It's "not right" such "violative charges have gone unchecked," O'Rielly wrote of "false claims."
Of contentions the new TV standard "was done to aid Sinclair’s profitability via its portfolio of patents," the commissioner noted he merely sought to nix rules preventing stations from moving to the new format. "Adoption of a compilation of twenty standards making up ATSC 3.0 by the private sector went through extensive debate and voting procedures. The Commission merely adopted what the standard setting body agreed," he wrote. If viewers don't want enhancements like ultra-high definition and enhanced emergency alerting, "they will not be forced to adopt them," he said. "Outside of today’s anti-Sinclair doctrine, this would be considered a major victory for the consumer," he said regarding efforts in Phoenix to find out what viewers like.
Other commissioners, the FCC itself and Media Bureau and Sinclair declined to comment. Commission Mignon Clyburn's office referred us to her past statements on the media items the blog covered that included dissents. "NAB supports reform of outdated FCC rules that limit the ability" of "broadcasters to compete against massively consolidated national pay programming providers," a spokesman said. "As Commissioner O’Rielly’s blog so eloquently notes, all broadcasters -- and not just one company -- will benefit from a more reasoned and rational approach to media regulation.” The American Cable Association and American Television Alliance declined to comment.