Univision, a radical immigration advocacy PAC with a broadcast license seeking government permission to become a foreign-owned entity exercising undue influence in our electoral process, seems to be in a hurry to get its foreign bailout approved.
Earlier this month, the Federal Communications Commission published a letter that memorialized a phone conversation between Chairman Ajit Pai and Univision Chairman of the Board Haim Saban, which reads, in part:
On June 29, 2020, Haim Saban, Chairman of the Board of Univision Holdings, Inc. (“Univision”), spoke by telephone with Chairman Ajit Pai and Alexander Sanjenis, Media Advisor to the Chairman, regarding the referenced proceedings, which pertain to the proposed transfer of control of Univision (the “Transaction”). Mr. Saban inquired as to the status of the Commission’s review of the Transaction and asked the Commission to complete its work as expeditiously as possible.
Saban, who leads the group of investors that acquired Univision in 2007, might be in a rush to cut losses but as Inside Radio reports, the process is still under national security review:
But no matter how quickly the FCC is prepared to go, it must first wait for the Team Telecom process to be conducted. And the FCC has also been asked by the DOJ to delay taking any action on the Univision sale until that review is completed.
Univision’s sale is the first major deal to enter the process since the Trump administration last month adopted a new procedure for dealing with proposed sales, including giving the Team Telecom a 120-day deadline to complete its analysis.
Univision’s proposed sale is currently under review by the Departments of Justice, Defense, and Homeland Security, respectively. That process is ongoing, despite Saban’s urging to speed it up- which goes to show precisely why he plowed so many millions of dollars into the election of Hillary Clinton- that is, in order to secure the relief provided by this rule change, which would ensure Univision's survival.
Additionally, multiple organizations have called for an expanded comment period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This sale isn't on any kind of fast-track, no matter how much Saban wishes it might be.
Click here to read (and then share) Media Research Founder and President L. Brent Bozell III’s letter to the Federal Communications Commission, in opposition to the FCC rule change that would allow Univision to become fully foreign-owned.
