Sponsorship Identification and Political File Violations Lead to Consent Decree and $500,000 Fine

The FCC’s Media Bureau announced a consent decree with a broadcast licensee that includes a $500,000 fine for violations of the FCC’s sponsorship identification and political file rules. The action stems from the licensee’s repeated failure to air sponsorship identification announcements for multiple episodes of, and numerous advertisements promoting a paid-for political program on multiple stations airing the program over an 18-month period.

In addition, the program contained multiple appearances of legally qualified candidates for public office, and other messages related to political matters of national importance, none of which were reported in the stations’ public files.