Sen Commerce OKs bill to bar new FCC rules on media ownership from applying retroactively

The Hill
Overnight Tech

SENATE PANEL APPROVES JSA BILL:

 The Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday approved a bill that would bar new FCC rules on media ownership from applying retroactively. The FCC's rules require companies to unwind previously negotiated Joint Sales Agreements, in which one TV station controls more than 15 percent of another station's advertising. A number of Democrats voted against the bill on a 10-6 vote. The House appropriations committee recently attached a rider to a bill to prevent the FCC from enforcing the rules. 



GOP COMMISSIONER CALLS ON FULL SENATE TO ACT:

 Commissioner Ajit Pai has called the rules "misguided." "Unfortunately, the FCC's new restrictions on JSAs have already caused some stations to go off the air and other stations to carry less local news," he said in a statement. "And that disturbing trend will only accelerate if scores of existing JSAs are terminated next year. I hope the full Senate and House correct the agency's error." 

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