If you have questions concerning the Federal Communications Commission’s political programming rules with respect to radio, television, cable television, and Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), you can contact the political programming staff by calling their main number at (202) 418-1440 or by e-mailing them at campaignlaw@fcc.gov. Among the subject areas in which this team can help are:

• Advising whether equal opportunities for political opponents are warranted

• Advising on candidate access issues

• Advising on the amount candidates can be charged for political advertising

• Advising on the specifics of sponsorship identification

• Advising on the FCC’s role in enforcing portions of the recent Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act requirements and a variety of other issues arising in the political arena

Political Programming Headlines

12/10/03
The United States Supreme Court affirmed almost all portions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002, including amendments to Section 315 of the Communications Act, 47 USC § 315, and the requirement that the FCC compile, maintain, and provide to the public on its website any information the Federal Election Commission may require to carry out Section 304(f) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended. For purposes of that section, the Electioneering Communications Database will allow you to determine whether a communication sent via a broadcast station, cable system and/or satellite system can or cannot reach 50,000 or more people in a particular Congressional District or State. Alternate site can be found here.

10/23/02
The Federal Election Commission Issued "Interim Final Rules with Requests for Comments" Regarding a Database to be Created and Maintained by the FCC.

9/10/04
Click here for a copy of statutes and rules relating to Political Programming Issues