Political Campaign Broadcast Activity Improvements Act
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S10583-10585)
Congressional Research Service
Official summary
Version 00 · Introduced in Senate · Oct 16, 2002
Political Campaign Broadcast Activity Improvements Act - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to include a national committee of a political party acting on behalf of a candidate for public office under provisions requiring the lowest unit charge for radio or television broadcast time for political candidates. Prohibits a licensee of a broadcasting station, except under circumstances beyond its control, from preempting the use of such station by an eligible candidate or political committee who has paid for such use. Requires audits of stations to ensure the provision of broadcasting advertising time for political candidates.Provides minimum time requirements for candidate- or issue-centered broadcasts by stations.Directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish and administer a voucher program for the purchase of airtime for political advertisements on radio and television broadcast stations by eligible candidates and political party committees as certified by the FCC. Provides maximum voucher amounts for both candidates and political committees.. Allows such vouchers to be used exclusively for the purchase of airtime, but allows the transfer of vouchers between a political party and a candidate and vice versa. Requires the FCC to redeem all vouchers accepted by such stations. Provides for voucher expiration.Directs the FCC to establish the Political Advertising Voucher Account and to collect and deposit into such Account an annual spectrum use fee based on a percentage of a station's gross revenues.
No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Sep 8, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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