Supreme Court pauses FCC deadline in political ad-rate dispute

The Supreme Court on October 14 paused a lower-court deadline that would have required the Federal Communications Commission to resolve a challenge to discounted political-ad rates, leaving the agency’s review ongoing as the November 3 midterm elections approach. The unsigned order set aside a Fourth Circuit requirement that the FCC issue a decision within 48 hours. The appeals court had imposed the deadline on October 7, more than five months after Democratic candidates filed an internal challenge to the agency’s policy. The Supreme Court’s action removes that deadline while the FCC continues its review; it does not decide the underlying legal dispute. The policy, issued by the FCC in March, allows political party committees to obtain discounted television and radio rates for certain advertising coordinated with candidates. Federal law guarantees candidates the lowest unit rates during the 60 days before a general election. The dispute is whether party committees and joint fundraising committees can use those rates for coordinated advertising as well. Democratic candidates, including Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia and former Sen.