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"Koeppel Direct's media buying expertise has played an integral role in making my company successful. Koeppel generated so much business for our company, occasionally we have to limit their media buys, in order to handle all of the new business." | |
| - R. Gregg Marketer of Senior Products |
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Political Rules And Regulations ...... |
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Call us today at 469-828-0875 for a Free Consultation. |
Political Advertising includes communications supporting or opposing a candidate, an office holder,
a political party, or a measure (a ballot proposition).
Legislative Advertising is a communication that supports, opposes or proposes legislation. Sometimes
referred to as Issue/Ballot Advertising, legislative advertising targets particular issues and referenda before
voters or a governing body. There are no FCC mandated rules regarding this advertising, with the exception of
disclaimer and public file requirements.
Federal elections are those for Senate, Congress and President. Rules and guidelines established by
the FCC were created specifically for these offices.
Non-Federal offices range from governor and state senator to sheriff and judge. Many, but not all,
of the same rules governing federal elections apply to these races.
Legally Qualified Candidate
The person must be eligible under the U.S. Constitution (Federal Candidates) or under local law to hold
the office sought.
The person must have publicly announced his or her candidacy.
Candidate "use" of a broadcast station is any "positive" appearance of a candidate's identifiable voice /
or picture. Determination of "use" is important because it defines whether (1) a candidate can receive access
to the station (2) whether the station is obligated to afford equal opportunities to a candidate's opponents
and (3) whether the candidate is entitled to the station's lowest unit charge.
Reasonable Access
Section 312(a)(7) of the Communications Act of 1934 requires that a commercial broadcast licensee afford federal
candidates "reasonable access" to its station facilities. This is an absolute legal right of access enjoyed
by federal candidates only; that is, candidates for President, Vice President, the U.S. Senate and the U.S.
House of Representatives. Candidates for non-federal offices (e.g., Governor, Mayor, state legislature, etc.)
do not have a legal right of access. However, the Federal Communications Commission has indicated a station
must keep in mind its "public interest" obligations of reporting important state or local races. Once a
licensee decides to make time available to a non-federal candidate, it is required to comply with all regulatory
obligations, including equal opportunity and lowest unit charge.
Equal Opportunity
Section 315(a) of the Communications Act of 1924 provides that is a licensee permits a "legally qualified
candidate" to "use" a station, then "equal opportunities" to use the station must be provided to the
candidate's opponents. This applies to all legally qualified candidates in both primary and general elections,
federal, state, and local. The right to equal opportunities applies only to "opposing candidates." In a general
election this means candidates running for the same office. In a primary election this means candidates of the
same party running for nomination for the same office.
The doctrine of equal opportunity imposes two basic obligations on the licensees
Licensees upon request must afford opposing candidates the same opportunities to use a station's
facilities...not that opposing candidates are entitled to the identical time period or program, but that
they are entitled to broadcast time of "comparable desirability."
Licensees may not discriminate in any manner among opposing candidates when providing broadcast time...
.i.e. licensees must treat political candidates in a fair, impartial and consistent fashion.
Licensees are not required to notify candidates of their entitlement to equal opportunities. Rather,
candidates must timely request their equal opportunity rights within seven days of the first prior use by an
opposing candidate.
The Zapple Doctrine - Quasi-Equal Opportunities for Candidate Supporters
The Federal Communications Commission has extended the equal opportunity principle to situation where a candidate
does not make defined "use" of a station's facilities, but where spokespersons or supporters of a candidate
(e.g., an independent political committee) buy time or appear on a broadcast for the purpose for the purpose of
either supporting the candidate, criticizing an opponent or discussing campaign issues. In such a situation,
when a candidate "use" has not occurred, the "Zapple Doctrine" nevertheless affords the spokespersons or
supporters of an opposing candidate equal opportunity to a comparable amount of time in which to respond.
The lowest unit charge requirements do not apply in such a case because there is no "use" by a candidate.
Lowest Unit Charge (LUC)
Lowest Unit Charge (LUC) was established by the FCC in the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to protect
legally qualified candidates from excessive advertising costs
Section 315(b) of the Act requires licensees to charge all legally qualified candidates no more than the lowest unit
charge for each class and amount of time for the same period for a "use" of a station, thus ensuring that low rates,
available to regular commercial advertisers, are also available to politicians, regardless of when they place their
schedules (within the political protection period).
Political Protection Period
Begins 45 days prior to a primary election
Begins 60 days prior to a general election.
Creative Requirements
All candidate political ads require the following:
A disclaimer identifying the candidate and the name of the committee paying for the ad
For television, the disclaimer must appear on the screen for a minimum of 4 seconds and letters must
measure at least 4% of the vertical picture height. Television stations may use audio identification in addition
to, but not as a substitute for, visual identification.
For radio, audio identification must be clearly audible and of sufficient length to reasonably convey the
specific identity of the person or entity buying the time.
The candidate must appear in the ad stating that they authorize or approve the ad
Political File Requirements
Stations are required to maintain files, open to the public, which include:
A copy of all requests for broadcast time made by or on behalf of a candidate for public office.
Names of officers of organizations that pay for or furnish programs or announcements
Copies of air schedules including rates paid and any rebates given
With the exception of a notation of the time a spot actually aired, the required material must be placed
in the public file immediately
Political records in the public file may be inspected and copied just like any other material in the file
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