FCC Chief Vows to Require "Equal Time" on TV for Candidates

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler promised to enforce FCC regulations requiring television stations to give political candidates equal opportunities for airtime. "The rules are pretty clear. Rules are rules," Chairman Wheeler said. "I hope that we have developed a reputation as folks who enforce the rules."

Hillary Clinton's appearance earlier in Oct on "Saturday Night Live" could trigger the so-called "equal time" rules, as could Donald Trump's plan to host the long-running NBC comedy show in Nov. That doesn't necessarily mean Lincoln Chaffee will be the next host of "SNL" -- but it could mean that local NBC affiliates across the country will have to give presidential candidates access to equal TV time. Lawrence Lessig, a Harvard University law professor who is running a long-shot presidential campaign to draw attention to campaign-finance issues, has already filed requests with dozens of NBC affiliates for three minutes and 12 seconds of airtime following Clinton's appearance on "SNL" in Oct.