[IP] FCC apparently embarrassed into about-face on license sales by felon ex-politician

[David Farber <dave@farber.net>]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Ethan Ackerman <eackerma@u.washington.edu>
Reply-To: <eackerma@u.washington.edu>
Date: Tue, 01 Mar 2005 01:40:33 -0500
To: David Farber <dave@farber.net>
Subject: FCC apparently embarrassed into about-face on license sales by
felon ex-politician

Greetings Dave,
An interesting little development at the FCC was picked up by the NYT but
otherwise mostly missed (weekend lull?)
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/02/26/business/media/26radios.html

It seems especially relevant in light of the selection of a new chairman
with Powell stepping down, calls for relaxing FCC Sunshine rules, and policy
arguments for more property-like treatment of FCC licenses.

The story seems ripe with subplots - perjuring and contribution-hiding
politicians selling radio station licenses to close successors, politically
pressurable federal agencies, aspiring and outgoing Chairmen who reject
procedure-following nonprofit attorneys but reverse course in response to
NYT calls...


By way of background:
FCC rules basically require station owners to forfeit licenses in certain
cases, including where a court has found:  (a) fraudulent misrepresentations
to governmental units; (b) criminal misconduct involving false statements or
dishonesty, (c) violations of antitrust laws; and (d) misconduct
constituting a felony.

More information can be found in the transfer application statement, a
public record, at:
http://svartifoss2.fcc.gov/prod/cdbs/forms/prod/getattachment_exh.cgi?exhibi
t_id=277209

To be fair, one should read its argument that the transfer should be allowed
despite the crimes committed.


------ End of Forwarded Message


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