A high ranking administration official told the Beltway Insider Hotline that Bush was considering the move as a way to quiet criticism that the FCC under his watch has been too vigilant in policing the airwaves. The idea of offering a co-chairmanship to Stern and Howard was conceived as a checks and balances move. Stern would encourage an anything goes policy while Sharpton has made headlines recently by calling for a moratorium on violent hip-hop radio airplay.  Pay-per-view coverage of board meetings where Stern and Sharpton face off against one another are said to be under negotiation. 

April Broma reporting for antiMusic.