Opinion ID: 294822
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: Alternatives of Relief

Text: 22 Having thus expressed our disapproval of the Commission's allowing the last-minute intervention of Everett in the first place, and our dissatisfaction with the conduct of the proceedings by the Commission thereafter, and our present uncertainty on the state of this record thus made as to the essential justice of the results reached, we now consider the proper path to take in fairness to all parties involved. 23 We are urged by Petitioner KIRO to reinstate the Commission's original order of September 1969, which gave KIRO program exclusivity over Everett's CATV system. But the Commission assures us that on all the facts as presently known, this is clearly wrong, because both KIRO and KVOS have signals of equal coverage over Everett and KIRO is entitled to no priority. The Commission's initial determination was in error because it was based on erroneous assumptions of facts since disproved. Thus to grant KIRO's petition might do a substantial injustice to KVOS, although, as we indicated above, the public interest may demand a principle of administrative finality no matter what the result to private litigants. 24 On the other hand, we are loath to approve the Commission order on reconsideration denying KIRO's claim to program exclusivity, because it is clear that KIRO has not had a proper opportunity to challenge the bases of the Commission's determination that — to the amazement of all parties concerned — KVOS indeed has a signal strength over Everett equal to a predicted principal community contour. To let the Commission's December 1969 order on reconsideration stand would be to give KVOS and Everett the benefit of clearly improper administrative procedure. 25 We therefore set aside the December 1969 Commission order on reconsideration in this proceeding, and direct that the Federal Communications Commission reopen the proceedings to afford KIRO a chance to submit all relevant evidence 17 and to test by usual hearing procedures the data relied upon by the Commission in its order on reconsideration. In such proceeding both Everett and KVOS likewise should have an opportunity to present any relevant data. After this the Commission can then make such determination of this matter as its judgment on all the facts calls for.