TOC Online Political File Plan Makes Sense

[Commentary] Broadcasters say the Federal Communications Commission's proposal to put political advertising files online puts too great a burden and expense on them while exposing sensitive pricing data to the Internet. Now, however, the Television Operators Caucus has offered a compromise, a proposal to post online select political information that the public and journalists want most. It deserves consideration by all broadcasters and the FCC.

Here's the TOC proposal:

I. The station would place online, either at a station website or the FCC’s website (at the station’s election), the following political file information:

• the name of the buyer
• the name of the candidate on whose behalf the political spots (or program material) were purchased
• the entity, including officers, that paid for the spots (or program material)
• the aggregate amount of money paid for the spots (or program material) by the buyer since the last online posting

II. Generally, the online political file would be updated once a week. Immediately prior to an election, it would also be updated the day before the election. Outside the lowest unit charge period, the online political file would be updated once a month.

III. Existing FCC requirements for stations’ local political files for purchase of political spots and political program material would remain the same.