Rep Richard Neal to FCC: Keep Existing JSAs

Rep Richard Neal (D-MA) urged the Federal Communications Commission to grandfather existing joint sales agreements between broadcasters, saying the arrangements boost localism and diversity. In a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, Rep Neal said that while he supports the Commission's goals of "competition, localism and diversity," he said he also has seen the benefits of joint sales agreements. He says a station in his district that has a JSA has brought "localism and diversity" to its community. "They provide news in both quantity and quality -- adding hours of news and investigative teams," he said.