Affiliate Groups Object to Foreign-Sponsored Content Rule Expansion

Expanding the scope of the foreign-sponsored content rules “would create substantial operational burdens and legal costs for all local broadcast stations that sell advertising,” said Fox, CBS, NBC and ABC affiliate associations in videoconference meetings with FCC Commissioner Nathan Simington and an aide to Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel Monday, according to an ex parte filing Thursday in docket 20-299. Expanding the rules would encourage advertisers to stop using broadcast outlets in favor of less-regulated internet and social media ads, the filing said. That doesn’t make sense “in a marketplace where most video advertising platforms will not be subject to the rules,” the affiliate groups said. The affiliate groups also objected to their 2021 petition seeking clarification of the foreign-sponsored content policy serving as the basis for expansion of the rules, the filing said (see 2403210071).