FCC political broadcasting rules

While most stations don’t think about the FCC’s political broadcasting rules in odd numbered years, they should — particularly in connection with state and local political offices. There are elections for governor in November in Virginia and New Jersey, and all sorts of state and local elections in different parts of the country. These include some mayoral races in major US cities.  Some of these local elections don’t even occur in November — and there are even a few that are taking place as early as next month. Most of the political rules apply to these state and local electoral races so broadcasters need to be paying attention.

This presidential primary race has already seen unprecedented amounts of advertising on stations, including through network advertising buys. Based on campaign announcements made in recent days, the advertising is likely to only increase as we move to the Super Tuesday states.  As the Democratic party nomination race heats up, broadcasters are likely to continue to see a flood of political buys, as candidates, PACs and other groups try to get the last word before the voters go to the polls. Here are four issues that broadcasters should be considering in this active, condensed broadcast season:

While political broadcasting never seems to be totally off the airwaves, the 2020 election season is about to click into high gear, with the window for lowest unit rates to begin on Dec. 20 for advertising sales in connection with the January Iowa caucuses. The beginning of the LUR window in Iowa is but the first of a rapid many political windows that will be opening across the country as the presidential primaries move across the country.