No Evidence Candidates Disadvantaged by LIFO Rules, NAB Says

There’s no meaningful evidence that political candidates are disadvantaged by FCC last-in, first-out (LIFO) rules, NAB said in a meeting with Chief Bill Lake and other Media Bureau staff Friday. Canal Media Partners, which petitioned the FCC to give candidates priority over other advertisers (see 1503300017), also participated in the meeting, an ex parte filing said. “The petitioner’s theory is contrary to law, undermines the Commission’s policies and has absolutely no basis in the record.” Granting the petition would effectively eliminate “the use of LIFO to establish preemption priorities, with the likely effect of eliminating low-priced classes of preemptible time altogether,” NAB said. “That would eliminate an inexpensive option for political candidates and all other advertisers.”