Top-Four Prohibition Likely to End Oct. 21; Comments on Gray Deals Due Oct. 22
The FCC Media Bureau has set comment dates for several of Gray Television's proposed purchases of TV stations (see 2508010047) and indicated that the agency won’t oppose a court decision vacating the top-four Prohibition, according to a public notice Monday.…
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“It is anticipated that the mandate for the vacatur of the Top-Four Prohibition will take effect on October 21,” the notice said. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the rule in July but delayed issuing the mandate to give the FCC additional time to file in opposition. Broadcast attorneys told us the language in Monday's notice suggests that the agency won’t do that. Comments on Gray’s proposed buys of stations from Sagamore Hill Broadcasting, Block Communications and Allen Media are due Oct. 22, the notice said. Opposition filings are due Nov. 6, replies Nov. 17.