Court Blocks FCC Order That Could Increase Election Ads on TV

A federal appeals court on Tuesday blocked a Trump administration decision that could have significantly increased the amount of political advertising on broadcast television ahead of the upcoming elections.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) had recently ordered broadcasters to offer the lowest advertising rates to political parties and joint fundraising committees. Four Democratic candidates challenged the decision in court, arguing that under US law, only individual candidates are entitled to receive what is known as the "lowest unit charge" (LUC).

In a 2-1 vote, a panel of judges at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit agreed with the candidates and set aside the FCC's order, which was scheduled to take effect on September 4. This date marks the beginning of the 60-day pre-election period during which broadcasters are required to offer the lowest ad rates to qualified candidates. The court's decision prevents a potential surge in political ads, which critics argued would have inflated campaign costs and dominated airwaves during a critical period for voters.