Democratic Reps Seek FCC Political Disclosure Closure

Most of a dozen Democratic members of Congress are calling on Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai to vote on clarifications to the FCC's political ad disclosure rules. That came in a letter Feb 22 to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. On Feb 3, the Pai FCC set aside the clarifications and accompanying admonitions and warnings to stations, saying they should have been voted on by the commissioners rather than decided by the Media Bureau on delegated authority.

The Reps were disappointed that the clarifications were set aside, but are hopeful they will return with that commission vote. "The complaints will be returned to pending status and considered by the Commission," said acting bureau chief Michelle Carey at the time. The legislators also pushed for the FCC to bring "true transparency" to political files by using its authority to require disclosure of specific donors, which is something not even Democratic FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler would do despite similar calls from some of the same legislators from his own party.