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WASHINGTON — On Tuesday, Free Press filed its reply to last week’s Sinclair Broadcast Group merger filing at the FCC. Sinclair largely used its submission to attack organizations and individuals that asked the FCC to deny the proposed deal.

Sinclair Broadcast Group’s proposed $3.9 billion buyout of Tribune Media would raise prices for consumers, harm media diversity and consolidate too much power in the hands of a single corporate giant, threatening “the health of American democracy,” according to critics of the deal who are urging federal regulators to block the merger.

Last year, for the first time since the advent of broadband technology, the FCC passed strict rules governing customer privacy for Internet service providers. Five months later, Congress voted to kill the rules.
Because President Donald Trump signed the resolution repealing the rules, no federal agency has the authority to protect the privacy of broadband customers.

Steve Bannon, Donald Trump’s former campaign chief and strategist, could take on an even more high-profile role just as the broadcast industry goes through far-reaching changes the new administration largely brought about.

WASHINGTON — The Voices for Internet Freedom Coalition, which fights for the digital rights of communities of color, applauds the NAACP for calling on the FCC to protect Net Neutrality.

Progressive media watchdog groups, Rupert Murdoch and conservative news outlets all want to stop a merger between the Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Media.

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA — Members of the media are encouraged to both participate in and report on the News Voices: North Carolina event on Sat., Aug. 26, at 1 p.m. in Charlotte.

After New Jersey sold its public television licenses for $332 million, the Senate and Assembly majority leaders proposed establishing a fund that would pay for journalistic initiatives and civic-information programs through partnerships with state universities. The state would put $20 million a year for five years into the fund.

The fiery conservative Sinclair Broadcast Group is taking over local TV all over the country. The FCC just gave it a bigger green light.

If a planned sale of the station — along with dozens of other TV outlets from coast to coast — to the Sinclair Broadcast Group wins approval from federal regulators, PHL17 may become the go-to place on your local remote for pro-Trump curveballs from the “Terrorism Alert Desk” and a blast of commentaries supporting President Trump during the run-up to the 2020 election.