According to a complaint filed at the American Federal Communications Commission, Clear Channel has been using “front” companies to hold radio stations for it, operating and controlling the stations while waiting for ownership rules to loosen enough so Clear Channel can buy them. Clear Channel occasionally omits these holding companies and their stations from its ownership totals, according to the petition.

Paige Albiniak from Broadcasting & Cable reports that the petition asks the FCC to deny Clear Channel’s attempt to buy WKKJ(FM) Chillicothe, Ohio, part of the Columbus market because of these rule breaches. The complaint was filed by a businessman who alleges that Clear Channel’s purchase of WKKJ will eliminate all radio competition in the Chillicothe market and will likely result in businesses in Chillicothe paying higher prices for radio advertising.