Media Contact:
Matthew Berry, (202) 418-2005
matthew.berry@fcc.gov
For Immediate Release
STATEMENT OF FCC COMMISSIONER AJIT PAI
On the Third Circuit’s Media Ownership Decision
WASHINGTON, May 25, 2016.—I am pleased that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit has 
struck down the FCC’s unlawful attempt to sharply restrict television stations’ ability to enter into joint 
sales agreements.  When the Commission adopted this arbitrary rule two years ago, I warned that any 
attempt to change our treatment of joint sales agreements without also completing our statutorily 
mandated review of the local television ownership rule would violate the law.  And today, a unanimous 
Third Circuit panel said precisely the same thing.  The court’s decision will help broadcasters continue to 
serve the public interest—particularly in smaller media markets, where joint sales agreements are critical 
to the survival of television stations and their ability to provide viewers with local news.
I also appreciate the Third Circuit’s criticism of the FCC for failing to complete the 2010 
quadrennial review.  Congress mandated that the FCC review its media ownership rules every four years, 
but we’ve now been derelict in our duty for many years.  The Third Circuit properly recognized that the 
FCC has failed to provide any “cogent” justification for this delay.  And the court’s decision makes clear 
that if the Commission does not complete its latest review soon, it will be doing so “at its own risk.”
Perhaps most importantly, today’s decision is yet more evidence that the FCC is now an agency 
unmoored from the rule of law.  It is long past time for the Commission to respect the limits on its 
authority set by Congress.
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Office of Commissioner Ajit Pai: (202) 418-2000
Twitter: @AjitPaiFCC
www.fcc.gov/leadership/ajit-pai
This is an unofficial announcement of Commission action.  Release of the full text of a Commission order constitutes official
action.  See MCI v. FCC, 515 F.2d 385 (D.C. Cir. 1974).