Tribune Chairman and CEO Sam Zell has responded to the April 8 letter from state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, in which the attorney general raised concerns that the merger of The Courant, WTIC-TV and WTXX-TV violated the FCC ban on a company owning a television station and a newspaper in the same market. You can read the attorney general’s original letter here, and Zell’s response here. The attorney general’s statement on the Zell letter, issued today, follows:

“I am pleased that Tribune Chairman and CEO Sam Zell has responded to my recent inquiry. I am encouraged by Mr. Zell’s pledge that Fox 61 and the Hartford Courant will continue making news decisions — what to cover and how to present it — separately and independently. Such editorial independence is important to assuring diversity of viewpoints, coverage and opinions in the Hartford news market.

“Mr. Zell states that the Fox 61-Courant merger complies with the Federal Communications Commission’s waiver allowing Tribune to own a newspaper and a TV station in the same market.

“My office will continue to review Tribune’s letter, and its FCC waiver and federal law, as well as additional developments and facts.”