FCC: Agency Launches Political File Rulemaking for Cable, Satellite and Radio in Response to Reform Groups’ Petition
In response to a petition filed by the Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause and the Sunlight Foundation, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposes to require cable, satellite and radio to post online the political file the providers are already required to maintain on paper.
“The FCC is getting serious about dragging the television and radio industry into the 21st Century with regard to their political files,” said Meredith McGehee, Policy Director of the Campaign Legal Center. “The public has a right to this information and these outlets should not be allowed to hide it from them in corporate offices in distant locales. We hope the Commission will move forward to finalize the rule as soon as possible after the comment period. We also are urging the Commission to now take the next logical step and require that the information submitted online is in a uniform format which is searchable, sortable and downloadable. Such a move is consistent with the Commission’s stated interest in modernizing its procedures and ensuring the data is useful and meaningful.”
A 30-day public comment period on the proposed rule will begin as soon the notice is published in the Federal Register.
To read the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, click here.
To read the petition for rulemaking, click here.