FCC: Complaint Filed by CLC et al. Against WXYZ-TV

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The Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause and the Sunlight Foundation filed complaints at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against 18 television stations in 7 markets across 4 states that incorrectly identified Independence USA PAC as the “true sponsor” of political advertisements, when in fact the true funder of the PAC is Michael Bloomberg.  On November 19, 2015, the groups warned the stations by letter that they were in violation of the Communications Act and FCC regulations and should identify Bloomberg as the sponsor on all future broadcasts of Independence USA ads.  Since none of the stations agreed to change their sponsorship identification after receiving the letters, the groups are filing complaints against each of them.  The complainants are represented by the Institute for Public Representation of Georgetown University Law Center.