federal communications commission

The Taneytown Mayor and City Council on Wednesday discussed an ordinance that would place limits on the implementation of small cell wireless apparatuses erected on public grounds in the city.

Baltimore-area businesses weathered failed deals, layoffs, closings and restructuring in 2018. But some started new chapters by expanding or merging, and new development sprouted all over and one new industry spread like a weed.

There is a growing movement in Washington to change a technology law that has received far less attention than net neutrality but is more central to how the internet operates. The outcome of this debate actually could break the internet as we know it, particularly in relation to online speech.

An investigation found no evidence FCC Chairman Ajit Pai acted improperly during Sinclair Broadcast's failed merger with Tribune Media.

By Lorraine Mirabella

Dec 3, 2018

An investigation by the FCC's inspector general has found no favoritism toward Sinclair Broadcast, the FCC Chairman said Monday.

By Lorraine Mirabella

Aug 27, 2018

Tribune Media Co. announced Thursday morning that it terminated the controversial $3.7 billion merger with Sinclair Broadcast Group, citing regulatory hurdles.

By Meredith Cohn

Aug 9, 2018

Sinclair's image problem: The CEO of the company it was about to partner with and the chair of the FCC are both calling its conduct into question — and one of them is willing to take on the president of the United States who appointed him and the other is going to court to prove it.

By David Zurawik

Aug 9, 2018

Sinclair Broadcast Group continues to work with Tribune Media Co. to win approval of their controversial proposed $3.9 billion merger despite hitting a potentially deal-ending roadblock with federal regulators last month.

By Lorraine Mirabella

Aug 8, 2018

A law firm has filed an antitrust lawsuit against the nation’s five largest owners of local television stations, including Sinclair Broadcast Group, accusing them of artificially inflating the price of advertisements.

By Lorraine Mirabella

Aug 1, 2018

If anyone still thought President Trump didn’t see Sinclair in political terms as part of his media support system, his Tuesday night tweet denouncing the FCC for not granting approval for the Maryland company's purchase of Tribune Media should dispel that notion.

By David Zurawik

Jul 24, 2018

In a document released Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission is raising questions about whether Sinclair Broadcast misrepresented parts of the proposed deal to acquire Tribune Media and whether the deal is in the public interest.

By Lorraine Mirabella

Jul 19, 2018

Sinclair Broadcast and Tribune Media will come up with new buyers for TV station divestitures in light of FCC concerns over the companies' $3.9 billion merger.

By Lorraine Mirabella

Jul 18, 2018

FCC Chairman Ajit Pai issued a statement Monday expressing serious concerns about the proposed Sinclair-Tribune merger, putting the $3.9 billion deal in jeopardy

By Lorraine Mirabella

Jul 16, 2018

The FCC's surprise move on the Sinclair purchase of Tribune Media spells bad news for the Hunt Valley broadcaster.

By David Zurawik

Jul 16, 2018

Opponents of the Sinclair/Tribune deal, led by Free Press, plan to protest outside Sinclair Broadcast headquarters Thursday before the company's annual shareholder meeting.

By Lorraine Mirabella

Jun 7, 2018

Twenty two senators have asked the FCC chairman to pause Sinclair Broadcast's proposed acquisition of Tribune.

By Lorraine Mirabella

Apr 26, 2018

The president of the Baltimore City Council wants officials to consider the creation of a public broadband network because of the Trump administration's moves to repeal open internet rules.

By Ian Duncan

Mar 26, 2018

Unfortunately, our country’s outdated infrastructure rules are threatening to stymie the United States’ progress in the deployment of next-generation broadband networks. That’s why, on Thursday, the FCC will vote on a plan to modernize those rules.

Sinclair Broadcast Group is selling WGN-TV but seeking to maintain control of the station through a deal with the buyer in a bid to skirt ownership limits and win federal regulatory approval for its proposed $3.9 billion acquisition of Tribune Media.

Sinclair Broadcast Group expects to finalize its proposed $3.9 billion takeover of Tribune Media in the second quarter, the Hunt Valley TV station owner said Wednesday.

By Lorraine Mirabella

Feb 28, 2018

In many spaces, the discussion centers on big companies and big cities that may sway the FCC members to vote one way or another. But players in Carroll have also weighed in with strong opinions.

The big telecoms will do just fine under a repeal of net neutrality. But what about the rest of us?

Consumers across the country lose if FCC drops net neutrality policies.

Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh filed comments Friday with the Federal Communications Commission saying ownership by Sinclair would decrease consumer choices and diversity in the media marketplace.

By Meredith Cohn

Nov 3, 2017

Sinclair Broadcast reports a drop in sales and profit during the third quarter due to impact of hurricane season

By Lorraine Mirabella

Nov 1, 2017

In May, when Sinclair announced its purchase of Tribune, the deal looked like slam dunk to make the Hunt-Valley-based company the largest broadcaster in the country. But not today.

By David Zurawik

Oct 20, 2017

Sinclair Broadcast takes bids for TV stations as it pursues Tribune acquisition

FCC weighs merits of $3.9 billion deal to merge Sinclair Broadcast and Tribune Media

By Lorraine Mirabella

Aug 25, 2017

The Federal Communications Commission relaxed broadcast ownership rules on Thursday, paving the way for a deal that Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. is reportedly considering to acquire Tribune Media Co.

By Lorraine Mirabella

Apr 20, 2017

The Republican caucus of the House of Delegates scored a rare win Monday as they blocked the introduction of a Democratic bill that would have sought to extend privacy protections to Marylanders that were recently rejected in Congress.

By Michael Dresser

Apr 3, 2017

Why propose new rules when technology is poised to make set-top boxes obsolete? Because the FCC's proposal isn't truly about boxes. It's about forcing television companies to give their video content to Internet companies who want to collect data about consumers' viewing habits and sell video advertisements without paying for or licensing programming rights.

Elizabeth Embry, one of a 13 Democratic candidates for Baltimore mayor, joined the TV ad race over the weekend with an ad titled "Focused Future."

By David Zurawik

Feb 15, 2016

The Federal Communications Commission plans to fine a Virginia-based electrical contracting system for allegedly blocking personal mobile Wi-Fi connections at the Baltimore Convention Center, it announced Monday.

By Carrie Wells

Nov 2, 2015

Net neutrality on the line

FCC lacks proper regulatory authority to govern the Internet and assure net neutrality

ISPs fears about net neutrality are wildly overblown.

FCC should keep the Internet open and unregulated to encourage innovation, competition

President Barack Obama's proposal to classify Internet service as a utility is the only way to keep the web free.

The Carroll County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) approved the construction of a 199-foot cellular tower on Backwoods Road in Westminster despite residents' fears and concerns.

Democratic Rep. John Delaney is airing the first general election television ad in his bid for a second term, focusing on a bipartisan infrastructure bill that has become his signature legislative effort, campaign aides said Wednesday.

The more important the Internet becomes, the more critical it is that this digital public square be open to all.

As the Federal Communications Commission considers whether to regulate the Internet as a public utility, it should look to the real-world experiences of other countries that have followed that course. If promoting investment in high-speed service is the goal, the results in Europe have been far from encouraging.

14 communities in north Baltimore have partnered to create the Baltimore Broadband Campaign. We want to demonstrate that, through the intelligent use of existing fiber infrastructure and the installation of new fiber where necessary, an economically viable, competitive broadband service is possible in the city. And it need not come from Comcast or Verizon: there are over 800 fiber optic providers of various types in the United States. Apparently, though, none have yet seen adequate economic