Newsmax CEO to Hill: Update Media Ownership Cap, Eliminate USF Discount in STELA Reauth
Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy urged members of the House and Senate Commerce and Judiciary committees Monday to “encourage” FCC Chairman Ajit Pai to institute a “new, acceptable” national media ownership cap before any future media “mega-merger." Ruddy also renewed his…
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concerns about retaining the restored UHF discount. If “the FCC does not act” on either item, “it is incumbent upon Congress” to deal with both as part of its 2019 debate on Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act reauthorization, he wrote. Ruddy, an opponent of Sinclair's now-dead deal to buy Tribune, criticized Pai on the UHF discount and ownership cap proceedings given perceptions by some they benefited Sinclair (see 1710240049). Despite Sinclair/Tribune's demise, the “underlying” issues of the UHF discount and media ownership cap still exist, Ruddy said. Tribune's 42 TV stations remain for sale and “a merger with another station group will certainly put the new company well above the existing cap." There's "strong bipartisan support to keep” some form of cap, “although some increase above 39 percent may be warranted,” Ruddy said. The committees didn't comment.