Broadcasters Face GAO Investigation on Advocacy Ads

Federal lawmakers have asked the Government Accountability Office to investigate whether broadcasters have been adequately disclosing potential conflicts when they air advocacy ads promoting issues in which they have financial stakes.

“It has come to my attention that some radio and TV broadcast stations may air advertising or editorial spots to influence legislation to benefit their interests, and that this practice may not be adequately disclosed to the public,” said Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, and Rep Mike Quigley (D-IL) in a letter to GAO. “GAO should investigate the scope of these practices, whether the existence and value of such spots is disclosed to the public, and in what form, and whether any such disclosure is accurate and complete,” Reps Issa and Quigley said in their letter. In a statement, Rep Quigley said that “the review that was requested is simply meant to gather facts to determine what, if any, action is necessary and makes no assumption of wrongdoing." In their letter to the GAO, Reps Issa and Quigley raised concerns about issue-ad campaigns that the broadcast industry has aired over the past several years.