FCC's Clyburn: No Lock for JSA Attribution Proposal

Federal Communications Commissioner Mignon Clyburn is no guaranteed third vote for FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler's proposal to make joint sales agreements (JSAs) more than 15% attributable as ownership, at least as it is currently constituted.

Commissioner Clyburn's office would not comment, but according to sources familiar with conversations between Commissioner Clyburn and National Association of Broadcasters executives, she is looking for a way to balance cracking down on bad actors who use the rules to skirt ownership limits and fostering sharing agreements that can boost diversity, particularly in rural markets where joint ownership of stations is disallowed but the need for some financial help is often greatest.

Chairman Wheeler will definitely need her vote, since the two Republican commissioners have raised major objections to the plan. Commissioner Clyburn is said not to want to reward those bad actors, but is looking at a "different path" to achieving that end as she tries to balance competing, and legitimate, interests. Look for her to offer up her own variations on the theme before the scheduled vote March 31.