Comments on AI Political Ads Extended but Less Than Requested

The FCC Media Bureau extended commenting deadlines for the agency’s NPRM on AI political ad disclosures, but the extension is not as long as NAB and the Motion Picture Association requested (see 2408120034). Comments are now due Sept. 19 and replies Oct. 1; the trade groups wanted them pushed to Oct. 4 for comments and Nov. 4 for replies. “We find that an extension of the comment and reply comment deadlines by 15 days and 22 days, respectively, (rather than the 30 days and 45 days requested by the Joint Filers) is sufficient to allow for the preparation of meaningful comments and reply comments,” a Media Bureau order said Thursday. Although some were concerned that the FCC was aiming an eventual rulemaking on AI political ads to be effective for the 2024 presidential election, the extension appears to make that impossible. Election Day is Nov. 5.