ONE Media Legal Head Jerry Fritz Calls It Quits

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The Executive VP for Strategic and Legal Affairs at ONE Media Technologies LLC, a subsidiary of Sinclair Inc., has announced his retirement.


After an illustrious career spanning more than 55 years in and around the broadcast and communications industries, he will step down on July 1.

For the past decade, Jerald “Jerry” Fritz has been responsible for the long-term strategic planning and public policy for ONE Media, supporting the adoption and deployment of the broadcast industry’s ATSC 3.0 digital broadcast transmission standard.

Throughout his tenure, Fritz also played a critical role in shaping ONE Media’s and Sinclair’s national and international spectrum use and intellectual property positions. His work on the adoption of ATSC 3.0 as a global digital broadcast standard was recently recognized by the North American Broadcasters Association with its International Achievement Award.

“No one knows broadcast television better than Jerry. He brings a unique blend of legal expertise, policy know-how, and technical facility that has made him instrumental in the industry’s advancement of ATSC 3.0,” said SVP of Global Public Policy and Communications Patrick McFadden.

One MEDIA President Mark Aitken added, “We honor the incredible legacy of Jerry, one that has impacted our entire industry. His wisdom and contributions will be deeply missed, but his influence will continue to inspire and guide future generations.”

Fritz joined ONE Media from Allbritton Communications and Politico, where he served as General Counsel and Director of Strategic Affairs for nearly 30 years. Previously, he served as the Chief of Staff to former FCC Chairman Mark Fowler, where he was a key member of the team that pushed to deregulate the broadcasting and telecommunications industries.

He’s also had a hand in helping to form multiple new ventures including the nation’s first local cable news channel, “NewsChannel 8,” in the National Capital Region more than three decades ago.

Prior to joining the staff of former FCC Chairman Fowler, Fritz was in private practice at Pierson Ball & Dowd specializing in communications law, held several staff positions at the FCC and taught on the adjunct faculty at George Mason University Law School.

Fritz has also served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Broadcasters, where he chaired the NAB-X.com Task Force, served on the Digital Television Implementation Team and the EEO and Copyright Committees. He is a past Governor of the ABC Affiliates Association and was former chair of its Government Relations Committee. Fritz is also a former Governing Committee member and Division Chair of the American Bar Association’s Communications Law Forum and a past co-chair of the Pre-Publication Review Committee for the Media Law Resource Center.

He has also been a mainstay on the NAB’s Broadcast Leadership Training Program’s faculty for a quarter century.