FCC Political Window Opens Next Week

posted on 1.06.2020

The FCC’s March primary political window opens in a little over week on Jan. 18. That’s an important date for broadcasters as the rest of the FCC’s political rules, beyond those applying to a legally qualified candidates, come into play on that date. This includes the lowest unit rate requirement and more intensive political recordkeeping.

Jan. 15 TAB Webinar on FCC Political Rules

TAB is producing a free 90-minute webinar for TAB member stations on Wednesday, Jan. 15, to review the FCC’s political broadcast rules. 

TAB’s FCC counsel Scott Flick, a partner with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, will cover the “Texas specific” provisions related to sponsorship identification in political advertising, as well as when and under what circumstances the FCC rules regarding political candidates apply; equal opportunities; the four news-related exceptions to the commission’s political rules; reasonable access; political advertising rates; sponsorship identification; recordkeeping and more.

The webinar will be Texas broadcasters’ last chance to get a good understanding of the FCC’s political rules before the commission’s political window goes into effect.

Waiting List Initiated: Jan. 11 TAB Newsroom Workshop: Covering the 2020 Election

TAB’s Jan. 11 political issue coverage newsroom workshop, Covering the 2020 Election, is sold out but TAB has started a waiting list if there are cancellations prior to 10 am Friday morning.

Contact TAB’s Patty Ochoa or call (512) 322-9944, to be added to the list.

Saturday’s workshop at TAB’s Ann Arnold Center in Downtown Austin is a joint initiative of TAB, the Poynter Institute and Google News Lab.

View program and hotel information

Al Tompkins of the Poynter Institute will help broadcast journalists move beyond the usual horse race political coverage of polls and daily gaffes, to deeply and more meaningfully cover key issues of importance to voters.

Tompkins will also demonstrate how key Google Tools can help newsrooms enhance their election coverage.

Contact TAB’s Michael Schneider or call (512) 322-9944, for assistance.

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