Equal-time rule
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The equal-time rule specifies that U.S radio and television broadcast stations must provide an equivalent opportunity to any opposing political candidates who might request it. This means that, if a station gives one free minute to a candidate on the prime time, it must do the same to another. If a station offers ten minutes to a candidate, it must offer the exact same time to the other one.
However, there are four exceptions: if the air-time was in a documentary, interview, scheduled newscast or an on-the-spot news event the equal-time rule is not valid.
During political elections this rule is normally taken more lightly to include major-party candidates in broadcast debates without having to include minor-party ones.
This rule was originally created by the Federal Communications Commission in 1927, in the Radio Act. It was later superseded by the Communications Act, where the Equal Time Rule lies under Section 315.
The rule was created because FCC thought the stations could easily manipulate the outcome of the elections.
External links
- [Equal-time rule] on Encyclopedia.com
- [Equal Time Rule] in The Museum of Broadcast Communications
- [MSN Encarta - Equal Time Rule]
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