U.S. lawmakers urge FCC to approve Tribune deal

WASHINGTON, May 21 (Reuters) - Fourteen U.S. lawmakers urged federal regulators to waive media ownership restrictions that would allow Tribune Co. TRB.N to be taken private in an $8.2 billion deal, according to a letter made available on Monday.

The deal, led by Chicago real estate mogul Sam Zell, needs approval from the Federal Communications Commission as it involves the transfer of broadcast licenses.

Under current media ownership rules, a company cannot own a daily newspaper and a television or radio station in the same market although media companies do under agency waivers.

Tribune has such arrangements in Fort Lauderdale, Hartford, Los Angeles and New York and earlier this month asked the agency to waive restrictions that could prevent it from owning television station and newspapers in the same city.

Tribune has also been allowed to own the Chicago Tribune and WGN television and radio network because it owned the properties before the media ownership rules became law.

The 14 lawmakers from Illinois, which included Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin and House Rep. Rahm Emanuel as well as Republican House Rep. Dennis Hastert, encouraged the FCC in the letter dated May 18 to act on the applications "expeditiously and to avoid administrative delay."

"We believe that prompt consideration of the merits of the Tribune Company applications is in the public interest and would be very grateful if you would give this matter your personal attention and act upon these applications in a timely fashion," they wrote in a letter to FCC Chairman Kevin Martin.