'1I:lnitcd ~tatcs ~cngtc WASHINGTON, DC 20510 February 22, 2012 Julius Genachowski Chainnan Federal Communications Commission 445 It' Street SW Washinglon, DC 20554 Dear Chairman Gcnachowski, We want to express our full support of the Federal Communications Commjssion's (FCC) proposed rule to have broadcast stations make political files publicly available online and we urge you to implement these proposed rule changes as soon as possible. With campaign season in full swing and new Super PACs springing up weekly. the public must have access to infonnation about who is funding these ads. Currently. broadcast stations are required to make the public inspection file, including the political file regarding campaign ads, available to the public in paper form only. Taking the additional step of having these documents available online would create transparency in a time of increasing campaignˇfinance secrecy. The information in these files should be available in an online, searchable database, and disclosures should include information about the people and organizations that purchase political advertisements. With the 2012 election season already underway, citizens have a right to know who is purchasing public ainime to support or oppose candidates. More people rely on TV stations for information than any other medium, making transparency in advertising critically important. However, the creators of campaign ads often hide behind confusing organizational names that do not provide adequate information about who is actually paying for the ads, or worse, can actually mislead the public about the identity or purpose of the advertisement. This problem is compounded by the Citizens United decision and the proliferation of Super PACs. The online posting of information in broadcast stations' political file cannot wait until months after the election; citizens deserve to know who is responsible for funding these advertisements today. When fonnulating the final rule, we urge you to take into consideration the comments of broadcasters and do everything possible to find a cost-effective and efficient method for publishing this information online, especially for small- and medium-sized stations. We urge the FCC to act swiftly and decisively to make the entire public inspection file readily available to the public, by posting the infonnation in an online, searchable database. The contents of thc political file must be included, since that infonnation is necessary for the public to know the truth behind who is funding campaign ads. While acting quickly to establish the new 0228 rules e ask that the F make e ery effort to limit the administrati burden to broadcasters. The public files n d to b taken out of the til abin t and rno ed onto tb Int met to ensure that the public has e ess to this inform lion. in erel United States Senator Al Franken United States Senator Michael B nn t nited tat senator nited States enator ester ited States Senator Daniel Akaka United tate natar v--=-------=----~ Tom Udall United Stat senator