FCC Approves Political Ad Order Before Thursday Meeting

The FCC unanimously approved changes to political advertising rules, an item that had been on Thursday’s commissioners’ meeting agenda, said an order Tuesday in docket 21-293 (see 2201190072). The draft order was considered noncontroversial and administrative, and the final version appeared to have no substantive changes. The order changes the language of FCC rules to conform to the 2002 Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, requiring information on political issue ads to be included in station online public files. The Media Bureau has required the filings since 2002, but until now the text of the rules didn’t reflect the BCRA. The order also incorporates campaign websites and social media activity into the list of factors broadcasters consider when judging if a write-in candidate is “bona-fide” and therefore eligible for lowest unit ad rates and other benefits. The changes “not only conform our rules with statutory requirements, they also reflect modern campaign practices and increase transparency,” the order said.