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March 5, 2012
Julius Genachowski
Chairman
Federal Communications Commission
445 1t h Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Chairman Genachowski,
We want to express our full support of the Federal Communications Commission'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
information 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 campaign-finance 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 airtime to support or oppose candidates. More people rely on TV stations for information
than any other medium, making transparency in advertising critically imp?rtant. 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 formulating 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.
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We urge the FCC to act swiftly and decisively to make the entire public inspection file readily
available to the public, by posting the information in an online, searchable database. The
contents of the political file must be included, since that information is necessary for the public
to know the truth behind who is funding campaign ads. While acting quickly to establish the new
rules, we ask that the FCC make every effort to limit the administrative burden to broadcasters.
The public files need to be taken out of the file cabinet and moved onto the Internet to ensure
that the public has easy access to this information.
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DAVID CICILLINE
Member of Congress
ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON
Member of Congress
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RUSS CARNAHAN
Member of Congress
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Member of Congress
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Member of Congress
S N DAVIS
ember of Congress
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Member of Congress