Federal Communications Commission v. Sanders Brothers Radio Station
United States Supreme Court
309 U.S. 470 (1940)
- Written by Rich Walter, JD
Facts
Sanders Brothers Radio Station (Sanders Brothers) (plaintiff) owned Dubuque, Iowa’s only radio station, WKBB. Sanders Brothers objected when a rival petitioned the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) (defendant) to license a competing radio station. The relevant statute made public interest the overriding criterion for awarding such licenses. The FCC found that a second station would serve Dubuque’s public interest and granted the petition. Sanders Brothers successfully appealed. The federal appellate court held that the FCC should have considered the adverse economic impact a competing radio station would have on WKBB. The FCC appealed to the United States Supreme Court, contending, in part, that Sanders Brothers had no standing to sue because the relevant statute restricted standing to those parties aggrieved or adversely affected by an FCC decision.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (Roberts, J.)
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