FCC Adopts “Clarifications” on Political Issue Ads

posted on 10.28.2019

- Time to Get the Aspirin

The FCC last week adopted two alleged clarifications to its disclosure requirements for third party political issue ads in response to complaints from public interest groups against several TV stations they say provided insufficient disclosure in the stations’ online public files. Taken together, the decisions will significantly burden stations airing ads from non-candidate groups by requiring them to review each issue ad to develop a list of all the issues of public importance discussed in the ad.

The changes also may result in stations having to reveal more information in the public file on the costs of non-candidate political ads supporting state and local candidates when those ads mention federal issues.

Details on how stations need to plan for these new rules are forthcoming in the pending update to TAB’s Legal Guide to Political Advertising.  In the meantime, attorney David Oxenford with Wilkinson Barker Knauer shares his insights on what to make of the new rules.

FCC Issues “Clarifications” of Political Broadcasting Disclosure Requirements

Questions? Contact TAB’s Oscar Rodriguez or call (512) 322-9944.

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