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Candidates on the air

T

TPO

A friend asked me a question about FCC rules and I thought I would post it here and get some feedback on it since he was not able to find the answer on the Commission's web site.

He does a weekly public affairs show on a licensed College Station and he is planning on running for public office. My question is whether or not there are FCC rules that would require him to not go on the air while his campaign was on. I know that most commercial stations would require him to take a leave of absence because they would understandably be concerned about having to give equal opportunity to opposing candidates but in this case the station would welcome the opportunity to give the other candidates air time.

He has found the rules dealing with the definition of a qualified candidate, equal opportunity, candidate appearance and the like but nothing that would require him to go off the air so the question to the list is whether or not there is an FCC rule that would require this.
 
Well, his opponent could demand equivalent time on that station.

If the opponent cared.

He could also invite his opponent to share the show with him during the campaign & discuss the public affairs he normally covers. By sending a letter to the opposing candidate, if he gets no reply, or his opposition comes in once or twice to appear, then doesn't bother anymore, probably nothing would come up about it.
 
He found the answer to his own question, but just didn't know it. There is not an FCC rule that requires him to go off the air; however, the rules that would require equal opportunity to an opposing legally qualified candidate would apply to his appearances.Most licensees impose the policy of taking any "talent" off air when they announce their candidacy, to avoid the potential legal hassles. It's really a good idea to do so.You don't have to notify opposing candidates of their right to equal opportunities; however, you must provide equal opportunities if requested within seven days of the original appearance.
 
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