Paramount said that it lined up "an aggregate $24 billion commitment from three sovereign wealth funds" from Gulf countries, specifically Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Qatar. Paramount said at the time that the sovereign wealth funds "agreed to forgo all governance rights (including board representation)."
Noting that he had been a broadcaster himself, Hadley wrote that the 'absolute lack of accountability has always confused (and sickened) me,' telling Carr and Delacourt: 'Please, do not let up, and let me know if I can help in any way.'
"We are grateful to President Trump, Chairman Carr and the DOJ for recognizing the dynamic forces shaping the media landscape and allowing this transaction to move forward," said Perry Sook, Nexstar's chairman and CEO.
FCC OIS detected similar fraud in the system in a 2017 report, which resulted in the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC), the Lifeline program administrator, beginning a "death check" as part of the enrollment process. However, the FCC allowed three states (California, Texas, and Oregon) to opt out of the death check process. The most recent OIG report specifies that the $5 million in fraud was all in the opt-out state
The FCC Media Bureau's January 21 public notice to broadcast TV stations said that despite a 2006 decision in which the FCC exempted The Tonight Show with Jay Leno from the rule, current entertainment shows may not qualify for that exemption. "Importantly, the FCC has not been presented with any evidence that the interview portion of any late night or daytime television talk show program on air presently would qualify for the bona fide news exemption," the notice said.