What is the FCC equal time rule at center of Colbert-Talarico interview controversy?
Same show, different day.
The Federal Communications Commission is aggressively enforcing its new guidance on a so-called equal-time statute, pursuant to a 20th-century federal law that requires broadcast television networks to offer opposing candidates running for the same office the opportunity to speak on-air.
The latest television program affected by the policy is The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, whose host interviewed Texas Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in a YouTube video rather than on the usual broadcast. CBS lawyers advised Stephen Colbert to take the interview off the air, but he posted the conversation on YouTube anyway.
A streaming service like YouTube is not subject to the FCC’s equal time rule. Therefore, there seems to be no apparent violation of the policy on Colbert’s part.
Under the Communications Act of 1934, Section 315 requires broadcast licensees to “afford equal opportunities” to all legally qualified candidates running for a particular office if the licensee permits one of the candidates to “use a broadcasting station.”
The FCC later issued a regulation in accordance with the statutory directive, commonly known as the equal time rule.
The independent agency released further guidance on applying the rule, providing exemptions for “bona fide” news coverage. This means that if a political candidate appears on any such news program, the network is not legally required to follow the equal time rule. Conversely, no exemptions are given to late-night or daytime talk shows that the FCC claims are “motivated by partisan purposes.”
Based on that logic, Colbert would have to give comparable airtime to Talarico’s opponents in the U.S. Senate primary for the seat held by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
Talarico is running against Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) in the highly competitive Democratic primary. Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will challenge the Republican nominee, whether that be Cornyn or one of the two challengers.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) are seeking to succeed Cornyn in the high-stakes March 3 primary. The state’s 10-day early voting started on Tuesday.
Talarico’s recent appearance on The View has drawn equal-time scrutiny from the FCC. The state lawmaker argued on Colbert’s Monday night show that the FCC’s investigation of the ABC daytime program is an example of the Trump administration’s weaponization of “cancel culture.”
Colbert explained his network capitulated to pressure from the Trump …
Same show, different day.
The Federal Communications Commission is aggressively enforcing its new guidance on a so-called equal-time statute, pursuant to a 20th-century federal law that requires broadcast television networks to offer opposing candidates running for the same office the opportunity to speak on-air.
The latest television program affected by the policy is The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, whose host interviewed Texas Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in a YouTube video rather than on the usual broadcast. CBS lawyers advised Stephen Colbert to take the interview off the air, but he posted the conversation on YouTube anyway.
A streaming service like YouTube is not subject to the FCC’s equal time rule. Therefore, there seems to be no apparent violation of the policy on Colbert’s part.
Under the Communications Act of 1934, Section 315 requires broadcast licensees to “afford equal opportunities” to all legally qualified candidates running for a particular office if the licensee permits one of the candidates to “use a broadcasting station.”
The FCC later issued a regulation in accordance with the statutory directive, commonly known as the equal time rule.
The independent agency released further guidance on applying the rule, providing exemptions for “bona fide” news coverage. This means that if a political candidate appears on any such news program, the network is not legally required to follow the equal time rule. Conversely, no exemptions are given to late-night or daytime talk shows that the FCC claims are “motivated by partisan purposes.”
Based on that logic, Colbert would have to give comparable airtime to Talarico’s opponents in the U.S. Senate primary for the seat held by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
Talarico is running against Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) in the highly competitive Democratic primary. Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will challenge the Republican nominee, whether that be Cornyn or one of the two challengers.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) are seeking to succeed Cornyn in the high-stakes March 3 primary. The state’s 10-day early voting started on Tuesday.
Talarico’s recent appearance on The View has drawn equal-time scrutiny from the FCC. The state lawmaker argued on Colbert’s Monday night show that the FCC’s investigation of the ABC daytime program is an example of the Trump administration’s weaponization of “cancel culture.”
Colbert explained his network capitulated to pressure from the Trump …
What is the FCC equal time rule at center of Colbert-Talarico interview controversy?
Same show, different day.
The Federal Communications Commission is aggressively enforcing its new guidance on a so-called equal-time statute, pursuant to a 20th-century federal law that requires broadcast television networks to offer opposing candidates running for the same office the opportunity to speak on-air.
The latest television program affected by the policy is The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, whose host interviewed Texas Democratic state Rep. James Talarico in a YouTube video rather than on the usual broadcast. CBS lawyers advised Stephen Colbert to take the interview off the air, but he posted the conversation on YouTube anyway.
A streaming service like YouTube is not subject to the FCC’s equal time rule. Therefore, there seems to be no apparent violation of the policy on Colbert’s part.
Under the Communications Act of 1934, Section 315 requires broadcast licensees to “afford equal opportunities” to all legally qualified candidates running for a particular office if the licensee permits one of the candidates to “use a broadcasting station.”
The FCC later issued a regulation in accordance with the statutory directive, commonly known as the equal time rule.
The independent agency released further guidance on applying the rule, providing exemptions for “bona fide” news coverage. This means that if a political candidate appears on any such news program, the network is not legally required to follow the equal time rule. Conversely, no exemptions are given to late-night or daytime talk shows that the FCC claims are “motivated by partisan purposes.”
Based on that logic, Colbert would have to give comparable airtime to Talarico’s opponents in the U.S. Senate primary for the seat held by Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX).
Talarico is running against Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) in the highly competitive Democratic primary. Whoever wins the Democratic nomination will challenge the Republican nominee, whether that be Cornyn or one of the two challengers.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) are seeking to succeed Cornyn in the high-stakes March 3 primary. The state’s 10-day early voting started on Tuesday.
Talarico’s recent appearance on The View has drawn equal-time scrutiny from the FCC. The state lawmaker argued on Colbert’s Monday night show that the FCC’s investigation of the ABC daytime program is an example of the Trump administration’s weaponization of “cancel culture.”
Colbert explained his network capitulated to pressure from the Trump …
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