WASHINGTON, D.C.—Chairman John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV today released the following statement on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) action on media ownership. Rockefeller has called on the FCC to closely examine the use of Joint Sales Agreements (JSA) and Shared Services Agreements (SSA) by broadcasters and has asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to study how JSAs and SSAs impact competition and consumers.

“I thank the FCC for answering my call to rein in the misuse of broadcast television sharing agreements, which has threatened the integrity of the FCC’s media ownership rules. Today's action on joint sales agreements is a positive step forward, and I am pleased by the agency's further inquiry into how it can monitor the possible impact other sharing agreements could have on consumers.”

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