Leonard Kahn, a long-time IBOC opponent, has filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York alleging that Ibiquity, Lucent and Clear Channel violated antitrust laws.
Kahn alleges in the complaint that the organizations formed a “broadcast cartel” seeking to block others from buying his AM Cam-D system that uses his Power-side gear. Specifically, Kahn states in the suit he had an oral agreement to test his system at WADO in New York, but that the station withdrew permission once it was sold to Univision.
Kahn seeks a jury trial.
In the complaint, he alleges that NPR, ABC, Cox, NAB, CEA, Kenwood, Harris, Texas Instruments and several other companies violated antitrust laws by forming a monopoly that supports the Ibiquity system; however the complaint is not directed against them specifically. Radio World is also mentioned in the document.
Clear Channel and Ibiquity told the Wall Street Journal they’re reviewing the document and had no comment.
Several of the allegations in the suit are also contained in Kahn’s previous filings to the FCC about IBOC that we’ve previously reported.
Kahn Files Suit Against Ibiquity and Clear Channel, Alleging Antirust Violations
Kahn Files Suit Against Ibiquity and Clear Channel, Alleging Antirust Violations