SL Communications, Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission

Opinion for the court filed by Circuit Judge TATEL.

TATEL, Circuit Judge:

The Federal Communications Commission disqualified appellant Dorothy 0. Schulze and Deborah Brigham (“S&B”) from a comparative television licensing proceeding due to serious misconduct. Because no other qualified applicant remained, S&B proposed to “settle” the proceeding by substituting in its place appellant SL Communications (“SL”), an established, reputable broadcaster willing to reimburse S&B for the expenses it incurred pursuing the license. Relying on its policy of deterring misconduct, the Commission rejected the…