FCC in Possible Boost to TV Mergers Announces Vote to Ease Rule

  • Chairman Pai asks agency to vote April 20 on UHF discount
  • Vote at FCC monthly meeting would reverse Democrats’ decision
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Federal regulators in the U.S. are considering rolling back a rule passed by Democrats last year that restricts broadcast companies including Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. and Tribune Media Co. from buying more TV stations.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, a Republican, on Thursday asked the agency to vote at its April 20 meeting on resuming the practice of counting just part of some stations’ audience when judging their holdings against a national limit of serving 39 percent of U.S. TV households.