FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF T HE CHAIRMAN September 7, 2018 The Honorable Frank Pallone Ranking Member Committee on Energy and Commerce U.S. House of Representatives 2322A Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Pallone: Thank you for your letter sharing your thoughts regarding the previously proposed transaction between Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Media Company. As you note, the evidence the Commission received suggested that certain station divestitures that had been proposed to the FCC would have allowed Sinclair to control those stations in practice, even if not in name, in violation of the law. Accordingly, I circulated a Hearing Designation Order to my colleagues, who unanimously approved it on July 18, 2018. Given the seriousness of the issues presented, the order directed the Media Bureau to hold in abeyance all other pending applications and amendments thereto related to the overall proposed Sinclair-Tribune transaction until the issues that are the subject of this order have been resolved by the Administrative Law Judge. That hearing proceeding is still pending in front of the Administrative Law Judge. Once he finishes with this matter, we will consider next steps depending on that resolution. At this time, I believe it would be premature to speculate on what they might be. Thank you for your continued interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, .,,.. v, Ajit V. Pai FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION WASHINGTON OFFICE OF T H E CHAIRMA N September 7, 2018 The Honorable Mike Doyle Ranking Member Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Committee on Energy and Commerce U.S. House of Representatives 2322A Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Congressman Doyle: Thank you for your letter sharing your thoughts regarding the previously proposed transaction between Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Media Company. As you note, the evidence the Commission received suggested that certain station divestitures that had been proposed to the FCC would have allowed Sinclair to control those stations in practice, even if not in name, in violation of the law. Accordingly, I circulated a Hearing Designation Order to my colleagues, who unanimously approved it on July 18, 2018. Given the seriousness of the issues presented, the order directed the Media Bureau to hold in abeyance all other pending applications and amendments thereto related to the overall proposed Sinclair-Tribune transaction until the issues that are the subject of this order have been resolved by the Administrative Law Judge. That hearing proceeding is still pending in front of the Administrative Law Judge. Once he finishes with this matter, we will consider next steps depending on that resolution. At this time, I believe it would be premature to speculate on what they might be. Thank you for your continued interest in this matter. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. Sincerely, v. Ajit V. Pai