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SENATE LEADERS LAUNCH NEW DRIVE FOR CAMPAIGN AD REFORMS Senate Commerce Committee leaders have joined in new drive to reform lowest-unit-rate and campaign ad rules, offering measures reflecting compromises reached […]

FCC reopened door to purchase of nonstandard ad lengths by political candidates (FCC 99-231) in decision on petition for reconsideration by People for American Way and Media Access Project. Reconsidering […]

Senator Hollings and Rep Gregg have warned FCC Chmn Kennard about the agency's inquiry on requiring broadcasters to allot free TV time to political candidates. Kennard was reminded that Congress has not authorized the FCC to proceed. The free-time issue may resurface when appropriations bill reaches the floor in late Mar 1998. Meanwhile, Kennard reported to the subcommittee that he is prepared to move the agency to Portals if funded by Congress.

A three-judge panel of the US Appeals Court, DC, has ruled an FCC provision permitting TV stations to channel political ads into particular time slots to protect children as unconstitutional. The panel explained that the FCC ruling violates the constitutional rights of candidates to reasonable access to airwaves. The FCC claims that it follows the access policy, pointing out that if stations did channel, they were expected to provide access to times that would comply with candidates' right to reasonable access.

Broadcasters don't have to sell political ads in 'odd' program lengths unless they make such periods available to other advertisers, FCC said in ruling issued Mon. Decision was in response […]

Senate Commerce Committee in calendar-clearing session Tues. passed legislation to allow FCC to auction 200 MHz of spectrum that includes controversial section preempting state regulation of rates of mobile services. […]

The Clinton administration has disclosed a new campaign reform package proposal that included vouchers to buy discounted broadcast time, effective after the 1994 elections. The proposal also focused on the removal of corporate tax deduction for lobbying expenses. The National Assn of Broadcasters disapproved of the proposal because of its alleged unconstitionality.

White House proposed new campaign reform package Fri. that included vouchers to purchase cut-rate broadcast time. Proposal was attacked immediately by NAB as 'politicians using a perceived public concern to […]

NAB request for declaratory ruling from FCC that stations not be required to sell time to candidates in odd increments (such as 5 min.) that normally aren't sold to commercial […]

FCC Mass Media Bureau Chief Roy Stewart ruled Fri. that TV commercial that show fetuses being aired by political candidates aren't and refused requests for declaratory ruling to permit stations […]

In meeting unusually heavy with praise for staff presentations, FCC did as expected Thurs. on 4 agenda items dealing with mass media matters (CD May 8 p1). FCC adopted new […]

FCC EASES SATELLITE STATION REGULATION, PROPOSES POLITICAL AD RULES FCC proposed new political ad rules Thurs. and decided to make it easier to set up satellite TV stations, including lifting […]

ROTH OFFERS ALTERNATIVE TO CONTROVERSIAL SENATE POLITICAL AD BILLS With Senate embroiled in campaign reform debate, Sen. Roth (R-Del.) Tues. introduced bill (S-1062) that would require TV stations to provide […]

Rep. bliley (R-Va) is preparing to reintroduce his proposal from 101st Congress to require broadcasters to provide airtime free to candidates, he said at House task force hearing last week […]

NAB hopes to play role in negotiations NAB hopes to play role in negotiations on final shape of campaign reform legislation moving in Senate, spokeswoman said after Senate Rules Committee […]

Sen. Dorgan (D-N.D.) Feb. 26 introduced bill (S-1688) to specify that candidates can receive discounts on broadcast time only if they run ads that are at least one min. long […]

FCC upheld policy of requiring paid public service announcements (PSAs) to be included in calculation of lowest unit charges (LUC) required for political ads. Oct. 28 opinion released Tues. rejected […]

Political ads containing 'graphic abortion imagery' may be scheduled by stations in time periods 'when children are less likely to be in the audience,' FCC said. In Sept. 28 decision, […]

Senate passed campaign reform bill (S-3) on 60-38 vote Thurs., including provisions of fairness doctrine, according to NAB. Senate Majority Leader Mitchell (D-Me.) said that one of strong selling points […]

Political advertising specialist Charles Guggenheim has claimed that broadcasters have the capability to influence campaigns through their advertising sales practices. Guggenheim stated during a Senate subcommittee hearing that television broadcasters have the power to determine how much air time a candidate will be getting. Almost all broadcasters sell 30-sec spots to candidates and these short exposures are very conducive to 'attack advertising.'

Planned Parenthood Federation (PPF) again asked FCC to ban antiabortion political ads as 'flagrant abuse of candidates' rights to media access.' In April 13 supplement to petition last fall that […]

John C. Danforth, Daniel K. Inouye and Ernest F. Hollings of the Senate Communications Committee have reintroduced legislation that would bring back the fairness doctrine and monitor the content of campaign advertisements. The 'Clean Campaign Act' would restrict the use of broadcast time to disparage political opponents as well as limit the use of political action committees' money to air advertisements. Danforth also introduced a bill regulating the rates of campaign advertisements.

The FCC should yield to broadcasters' decision regarding the channeling of indecent political advertisements. The National Assn of Broadcasters based this sentiment on the assumption that the FCC considers the liability of a broadcaster instead of the candidate on indecent content issues. FCC was also advised to authorize broadcasters for the refusal of such political advertisements. The legality of the proposed FCC authorization was also expalined by a broadcasting firm.

Sen. Boren (D-Okla.) last week introduced legislation (S-3) on campaign finance reform. He offered similar bill last year to provide political candidates with nonpreemptible time at lowest rates TV stations […]

First test case on reasonable access for political candidates to TV time has emerged in response to Democratic National Committee (DNC) claim that FCC shouldn't rule on issue. NAB asked […]

More on those aborted fetus campaign spots (CD Sept 3 p2): FCC staff ruling 'is yet another example of the futility and foolishness of program content regulation,' said RTNDA Pres. […]

Letter ruling by FCC Mass Media Bureau that political TV commercials featuring aborted fetuses aren't indecent (CD Aug 24 p1) 'is unconstitutionally vague and unclear,' said law firm Kaye, Scholer, […]

Citing 2 earlier FCC rulings that it said are in conflict. NAB has asked FCC for declaratory order on what constitutes 'reasonable access' in sale of time to candidates for […]

Federal Election Commission remains deadlocked on issue whether broadcasters can give free or deep-discounted air time to political candidates (CD Aug 10 p4), forcing stations to decide for themselves for […]