WJLA owner's fitness contested - Allbrittons and Riggs Bank

[seemslikeadream]

By Chris Baker
THE WASHINGTON TIMES


Does the Allbritton family's troubled banking business make them unfit to hold the broadcasting license for the Washington area's ABC affiliate, WJLA-TV (Channel 7)?
Theodore M. White, formerly the owner of rival WFDC-TV (Channel 14), filed a petition with the Federal Communications Commission last month saying regulators should not renew WJLA's license because the government is investigating claims of money laundering at Riggs Bank, which the family controls.
The Allbrittons fired back last week, arguing in documents filed with the FCC that Mr. White's petition is "frivolous and specious."

"Enforcement of banking regulations is best left to banking regulators," said Jerald N. Fritz, senior vice president of legal and strategic affairs for the Allbrittons' TV business.
The Allbrittons own about a dozen TV stations, including WJLA and NewsChannel 8 in the Washington area. The family once tried to purchase Channel 14, but it was sold to Univision Communications Inc., which changed the call letters to WFDC from Mr. White's initials, WTMW.
The parent of PNC Bank recently agreed to buy Riggs, but representatives for the Allbrittons have strongly denied reports that they will sell their TV stations, too.
The FCC is unlikely to rule on Mr. White's petition before December.

http://washingtontimes.com/business/20041005-095948-6085r.htm

[MADem]

1. Thank GOD--truth at LAST

Those are the same crazy bastards who took Bill Maher/Politically Incorrect off the air--in DC--where all the politicians are! The only way the legislators could see the show was to have someone in their constituency tape it for them!