Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Latest Breaking News

onenote

(46,067 posts)

9. As someone who has practiced Communications Law for 45 years, I can assure you that licensees pay attention to it.

Reply to oldmanlynn (Reply #8)

Sun Feb 8, 2026, 12:52 PM

Yesterday

The Equal Opportunities rule applies only to appearances by legally qualified candidates for office during a campaign and is intended to prevent broadcast licensees from providing valuable airtime to only one candidate. A related statutory rule -- the Lowest Unit Rate rule -- requires station licensees to make advertising time available to candidates at the lowest rate offered to anyone else.

The Fairness Doctrine was intended to ensure that at all times, not just during political campaigns, broadcasters covered controversial topics of public concern and allowed for competing viewpoints to be heard.

Click here to purchase valentine hearts!

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

16 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

US agency investigating if ABC's 'The View' violated equal time rules for political candidates [View all] BumRushDaShow Yesterday OP

There are no equal time rules Roy Rolling Yesterday #1

You are wrong. While the FCC's Fairness Doctrine rulewas repealed, the statutory "Equal Opportunities" rule was not. onenote Yesterday #5

Have they heard of "The Five" on Fox. JohnnyRingo Yesterday #2

In their minds 4 to 1 is equal PatSeg Yesterday #3

Maybe the View can mention them in the lawsuit as evidence of balance across Baitball Blogger Yesterday #4

As noted above, the Fairness Doctrine and the Equal Opportunities aka Equal Time rule are separate. onenote Yesterday #7

Evidently, the equal opportunities statutory law you referred to oldmanlynn Yesterday #8

As someone who has practiced Communications Law for 45 years, I can assure you that licensees pay attention to it. onenote Yesterday #9

The Equal Opportunities rule only applies to broadcast. onenote Yesterday #6

They are using the fact the The View is an on-air broadcast mdbl Yesterday #11

That makes sense. JohnnyRingo Yesterday #12

Entertainment shows are included, but not when they do a bona fide interview. Until now. onenote Yesterday #15

Equal coverage for Democrats on the evening news, FOX included. Well? twodogsbarking Yesterday #10

As noted above, the equal opportunities aka equal time rule only applies to broadcast onenote Yesterday #14

I was fantisizing. There is no emoji. twodogsbarking Yesterday #16

Foxnews??? Smackdown2019 Yesterday #13