Re: Re:Re:Wired.com on Reversing Consolidation

[Garrett Wollman <wollman@lcs.mit.edu>]

<<On Fri, 10 Jan 2003 16:39:26 -0500, "Dan Billings" <billings@suscom-maine.net> said:

> The problem is that the station can't charge market rates!

Ouch.  I didn't realize that the LUC giveaway applied to non-Federal
candidates as well.  That's evil.  So that other people don't have to
look it up, the qualification is described in 47 CFR 73.1940, on the
basis of statutory authority in 47 USC 315, and in both cases the languages
provides that candidates for ``any public offiice'' receive LUC
rates.  The sec. 315 language also states that broadcast stations are
not obligated by it to carry political advertisements.

Interestingly enough, the possibility of license revocation under 47
USC 312(a)(7) only applies to Federal candidates -- so stations have
no fear of turing down local candidates.

-GAWollman