FCC Chair Ajit Pai Clamps Down on Sinclair-Tribune Merger

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Commissioner Ajit Pai testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee's Privacy, Technology and the Law Subcommittee hearing on "Examining the Proposed FCC Privacy Rules" on Capitol Hill in Washington on May 11, 2016. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images

Ajit Pai, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said on July 16 that the proposed merger between Sinclair Broadcast Group and Tribune Media could be “in violation of the law.”

His surprise statement could kill off a deal worth a reported $3.9 billion. In a statement, he said he had “serious concerns” about Sinclar’s acquisition of Tribune.