Friedman v. Federal Communications Commission
Friedman v. Federal Communications Commission
Opinion of the Court
Pursuant to § 402(a) of the Communications Act,
Gerico’s petition also challenges the action of the Commission in refusing to modify Gerico’s own license, above referred to, by permitting operation on the new VHF Channel 6 in lieu of Channel 17. It is urged that in this manner the Commission could remedy the problem by placing Gerico in a position to have a fair chance of operating successfully in competition with VHF stations in the area. To sustain this contention we would be required to hold, as we cannot do, that the Commission, has been arbitrary, capricious, and unreasonable in opening the question of allocating Channel 6 to other applicants as well as to Gerico. The disposition of this channel is now before the Commission to be determined in a consolidated proceeding in which we must at present assume that the rights of the respective applicants, including Gerico, will be respected by the Commission, subject to judicial review.
The actions of the Commission above discussed will be sustained in case No. 14387. The appeal in case No. 14386, filed pursuant to § 402(b), directed to the same matters, will be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction, since the provisions for judicial review contained in §§ 402 (a) and 402(b) are mutually exclusive.
It is so ordered.
. 48 Stat. 1093 (1934), as amended, 66 Stat. 718, 47 U.S.C. § 402(a) (1952), 47 U.S.C.A. § 402(a).
. Gerico Investment Company appeared in all proceedings before the Commission in cases No. 14386 and No. 14387. During oral argument in this court counsel for Gerico stated that subsequent to the Commission’s decision Gerico had been adjudged a bankrupt and that a trustee in bankruptcy had been appointed. Permission was granted to file a motion for substitution of the trustee as a party in these actions. We have granted the motion and entered our order accordingly. For better understanding and also as a matter of convenience, however, we use in the text of our opinion the name of Gerico rather than that of the trustee.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Harold FRIEDMAN, Trustee in Bankruptcy for the Gerico Investment Company v. FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, Appellee WTVJ, Inc., Publix Television Corporation, Intervenors Harold FRIEDMAN, Trustee in Bankruptcy for the Gerico Investment Company v. UNITED STATES of America, and Federal Communications Commission, WTVJ, Inc., Publix Television Corporation, Intervenors
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published