Frequency Forward has filed a formal petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) urging the agency to block Sinclair Broadcasting's proposed transfer of five television station licenses to Rincon Broadcasting Group. The petition alleges systematic misconduct, including using shell corporations to circumvent multiple ownership regulations and repeatedly misleading federal regulators.
The complaint centers on Sinclair's alleged use of sidecar companies like Cunningham Broadcasting and Deerfield Media to maintain de facto control of stations it cannot legally own. Key accusations include concealing financial relationships, failing to disclose corporate consolidations, and sharing legal counsel across multiple entities.
The petition challenges five specific station transfers: KHQA in Quincy, Illinois; KTVO in Kirksville, Missouri; WICS in Springfield, Illinois; WICD in Danville, Illinois; and WVTV in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Frequency Forward argues that these transfers should be halted due to Sinclair's pattern of regulatory deception.
Evidence obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request reportedly demonstrates that Sinclair continued misrepresenting material facts to the Commission even while under investigation by the Media Bureau. The organization contends that these actions fundamentally undermine the public interest standard governing broadcast licensing.
The filing builds upon a previous $48 million FCC consent decree from 2020, arguing that the settlement was inadequate and failed to address systemic misconduct. Frequency Forward's attorney, Arthur Belendiuk, characterized Sinclair's actions as creating a "shadow network of fake licensees" designed to circumvent federal ownership limitations.
The petition ultimately calls on the FCC to conduct a comprehensive hearing to determine whether Sinclair and its associated companies remain qualified to hold broadcast licenses, emphasizing the critical importance of maintaining integrity in public media ownership.
