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
Background
The United States Supreme Court has affirmed all portions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002 pertaining to the FCC’s enforcement of the law, 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.
Statutes and Rules
Statutes and Rules on Candidate Appearances & Advertising
For more information pertaining to the Media Bureau, please call: (202) 418-7200.
