FCC Should Make Online Public Inspection Files More Searchable: Common Cause, Sunlight, Campaign Legal Center

The FCC should continue requiring broadcasters to make information available in their public inspection files and online, said The Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause and Sunlight Foundation in joint comments filed Wednesday. The commission should also take steps to make the data more searchable, the groups said. The FCC should “adopt the use of a standardized, machine-readable format for submitting political file data," the groups said. “While online public files provide essential information needed to ensure that television stations serve the public interest, the FCC should adopt its proposal to extend the filing requirements to other media and should require the filing of shared services and other agreements that may confer influence,” the groups said.