Opinion

Multi-State Communications, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission, Rko General, Inc., Intervenor

  • 590 F.2d 1117
  • 192 U.S. App. D.C. 1
Court
Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
Filed
Mar 19, 1979
Status
Published
Author
Bazelon
On the bench
Bazelon, Fifth, Tuttle
Cited by
9 cases
Authority
More cited than 25.1%

The opinion

BAZELON, Circuit Judge,

dissenting:

I would remand the case for consideration of a second financial commitment presented to the FCC by Multi-State in May, 1977. Although produced late in the proceeding, the second commitment was submitted before the Commission’s order was final. 1 This court has recognized that such late presentations, when changing a “core” circumstance of the case and when supported by equitable considerations, can be accepted by the FCC without disturbing the value of administrative finality. 2 A second commitment would clearly affect the core circumstances of the case. Moreover, the issues raised by Multi-State’s appeal were substantial, as the majority decision today demonstrates, and the difficulties of acquiring a second financial commitment were also substantial. 3 Accordingly, I cannot say that Multi-State’s delay in obtaining the second commitment bars its consideration.

. The FCC order was under judicial review at the time the Commission confronted the second financial commitment, RKO General, Inc., FCC 78-96 (Feb. 22, 1978). See Greater Boston Television Corp. v. FCC, 149 U.S.App.D.C. 322, 336 , 463 F.2d 268 , 282 (1971), cert. denied sub nom. WHDH, Inc. v. FCC, 406 U.S. 950 , 92 S.Ct. 2042 , 32 L.Ed.2d 338 (1972).

. Crosthwait v. FCC, 1- 89 U.S.App.D.C. 392, at 396-398 , 584 F.2d 550, at 554-556 , (1978); Fleming v. FCC, 96 U.S.App.D.C. 223 , 225 F.2d 523 (1955); Greater Boston Television Corp. v. FCC, supra, at 337, 463 F.2d at 283 .

. Additional factors appear in the background of this case which may not, by themselves, mandate a remand, but which touch directly on the question of fairness to Multi-State. RKO General, the incumbent licensee, was a major customer of Chase Manhattan. This potential conflict of interest shadows the bank officer’s failure to review the creditworthiness of MultiState before issuing the letter, and his subsequent testimony on the matter.

This is a copy of a public record, reproduced as it was published. It is not legal advice, and it may not be the version a court would rely on. Check the official source before you cite it.

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