Less than three weeks before the midterm elections, the Supreme Court told the Federal Communications Commission to take its time. This week, the justices lifted a court-ordered deadline that would have forced the agency to rule on a Democratic challenge to its political advertising policy before Nov. 3. That policy gives party committees the discounted rates candidates have long enjoyed. I think rate parity between a candidate and his own party is sound policy. I doubt an agency notice is the right vehicle for it, and Congress should step in.
During the 60 days before a general election, a candidate can’t be charged more than the station’s most favored commercial advertiser. On March 30, the FCC’s media bureau extended that treatment to ads coordinated between a party and a federal candidate, and to authorized committees, including joint fundraising committees. Independent party spending still pays full freight. Say a station sells its most favored advertiser a 30-second primetime spot for $1,000. A candidate in that window pays no more than $1,000.
