Lawmaker questions FCC rule on political ads at budget hearing
Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), the chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee's subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, grilled Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski about his agency’s move to require online databases of political advertising at broadcast television stations. She said she couldn’t understand why the disclosure of the data is suddenly a priority at the FCC.
"Why do you care about this? You have plenty of other things that are far more important since we already have a Federal Election Commission," she said. "Why in the world is this a big priority?" Chairman Genachowski said the proposal is part of the commission's effort to increase transparency and put more data online. He said the proposed rule would allow academics, journalists and members of the general public to more easily find out which groups are buying political ads and how much they're spending. "In the 21st century, the question is if common sense says to put that information online," he said.
FCC Commissioner Robert McDowell said the proposed rule strays from the FCC's core mission and would burden broadcasters. He said the FCC is moving forward with the proposal "with little to no evidence that candidates, their representatives, or members of the local communities served by broadcasters have been unable to access the required information, let alone that the benefits would outweigh the costs." He estimated the requirement would cost broadcasters $15 million in upfront costs and an additional $140,000 per year to maintain the database.
Rep. José Serrano (D-NY) defended the proposal and said broadcasters should be required to post the data even if it costs them money. He noted that Congress pays to stream its hearings online to increase transparency. "We should know who is paying for political ads," Serrano said.
Chairman Julius Genachowski said that the FCC's repacking of TV stations after spectrum incentive auctions would not compromise their ability to deliver mobile DTV. Chairman Genachowski was asked by Rep. Kevin Yoder (R-KS) what steps the FCC was taking to insure that when it repacks stations to free up larger swaths of spectrum for auction it does not compromise broadcasters' ability to deliver mobile DTV, including important local news and information. Genachowski said he had given broadcasters those assurances. He said the FCC was encouraging innovative uses of spectrum, that broadcasters had the flexibility to provide the service, and that the marketplace would decide whether mobile DTV would be a success.
Lawmaker questions FCC rule on political ads at budget hearing Statement (Chairman Genachowski) Statement (Commissioner McDowell) House Panel Questions FCC Political Ad Disclosure Rules (National Journal) FCC's Genachowski Grilled Over Moving TV Political Files Online (AdWeek) Chairman Genachowski to Hill: Repacking Will Leave Room for Mobile DTV (Broadcasting&Cable)