Online TV Public Inspection File Update: A New Political Reporting Approach Proposed

[Commentary] The Federal Communications Commission had asked for comments on whether or not to extend the political file component of the online public inspection file requirement to all TV stations.

When the online public file system was first put into place in 2012, only Big Four network affiliates in the Top 50 markets were required to upload their political file materials. Now, public interest groups (the Public Interest Airwaves Coalition (PIPAC), the Sunlight Foundation, and the Center for Effective Government) are suggesting a Federal Election Commission-like reporting system for TV stations. They are urging the FCC not only to extend the requirement to all commercial TV stations, but also to institute an entirely new online filing format for political materials. If the proposed online filing system really would make everybody’s life easier, it would be good for the FCC to know that. But if the proposed system would impose considerable additional burdens – and, frankly, we suspect it would, but again, we don’t have a lot of first-hand experience here – the Commission should know that, too.