Nassau comes to town

[Dan Billings]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sid Schweiger" <sid@wrko.com>
To: <boston-radio-interest@rolinin.BostonRadio.org>
Sent: Saturday, April 10, 2004 10:51 AM
Subject: Re: Nassau comes to town

> So if a conservative POV is broadcast, it's not propaganda?

It is.

> No.  There are no "equal time" rules.  What kicks in 45 days before a
primary or 60 days before a general election is the "lowest unit rate" law
(47 USC 315(b)(1)), which regulates what stations may charge candidates for
their ads.

The law goes beyond just paid ads:
The "Equal Time" Law

47 USC 1A315

(a) If any licensee shall permit any person who is a legally qualified
candidate for any public office to use a broadcasting station, he shall
afford equal opportunities to all other such candidates for that office in
the use of such broadcasting station: Provided, That such licensee shall
have no power of censorship over the material broadcast under the provisions
of this section. No obligation is imposed under this subsection upon any
licensee to allow the use of its station by any such candidate. Appearance
by a legally qualified candidate on any-- 

 (1) bona fide newscast,

(2) bona fide news interview,

(3) bona fide news documentary (if the appearance of the candidate is
incidental to the presentation of the subject or subjects covered by the
news documentary), or

 (4) on-the-spot coverage of bona fide news events (including but not
limited to political conventions and activities incidental thereto),

shall not be deemed to be use of a broadcasting station within the meaning
of this subsection. Nothing in the foregoing sentence shall be construed as
relieving broadcasters, in connection with the presentation of newscasts,
news interviews, news documentaries, and on-the-spot coverage of news
events, from the obligation imposed upon them under this chapter to operate
in the public interest and to afford reasonable opportunity for the
discussion of conflicting views on issues of public importance.