FCC wants to know if changes Pai pushed aided Sinclair-Tribune merger
Last April, the Federal Communications Commission, led by its Trump-appointed chairman Ajit Pai, eliminated a restriction that had capped how many stations media companies could own. Weeks later, Sinclair Broadcast Group announced a long- suspected deal to acquire Tribune Media for $3.9 billion. Anyone finding that timing suspicious wouldn't be alone: For two months, the FCC's internal watchdog has been investigating whether Pai and his aides improperly pushed to change the rules and timed it to help Sinclair, Representative Frank Pallone (D-NJ) confirmed to The New York Times . For months I have been trying to get to the bottom of the allegations about Chairman Pai's relationship with Sinclair Broadcasting. https://t.co/JGmRQp4VoN — Rep. Frank Pallone (@FrankPallone) February 15, 2018 The extent of the investigation is unclear, as is whatever could result. The office of the FCC's nonpartisan inspector general didn't comment on "the existence or the...