U.S. Appeals Court Blocks FCC Bid to Extend Discount Ad Rates Before Sept. 4
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 25
U.S. Appeals Court Blocks FCC Bid to Extend Discount Ad Rates Before Sept. 4
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 25
Summary
A 2-1 Fourth Circuit panel barred the FCC from letting political parties and joint fundraising committees buy broadcast ads at the same discounted rates as candidates ahead of the midterms.
The court said federal campaign-finance law clearly excludes parties and mixed committees with non-candidate members, rejecting the FCC's claim that its public notice merely clarified existing policy.
Four Democratic candidates—including Senator Jon Ossoff and Senate hopefuls Sherrod Brown and Roy Cooper—sued to stop the change, while Democratic Commissioner Anna Gomez had warned it would channel more coordinated money into TV ads.
The ruling lands just before the Sept. 4 lowest-rate window for candidates and in an election cycle AdImpact projects at $11.6 billion, including $5.6 billion for broadcast television.
It also follows the Supreme Court's June decision lifting limits on coordinated party spending with candidates, leaving this ad-pricing fight as a separate battleground over campaign money.