Political Files

Rule Section 73.3526(e)(6), 73.3527(e)(5)  
Retention two years.  
What's in here? This file must contain all requests for specific schedules of advertising time by candidates and certain issue advertisers, as well as the final dispositions or "deals" agreed to by the entity and the advertiser in response to any requests. It is not necessary to retain any of the materials relating to the negotiation between the parties to reach the disposition. Finally, the file must include the reconciliation of the deal such as a description of when advertising actually aired, advertising preempted, and the timing of any make-goods of preempted time, as well as credits or rebates provided the advertiser. The request and disposition must be placed in the file as soon as possible, which the Commission has determined is immediately absent extraordinary circumstances. The reconciliation information need not be placed in the file immediately but the entity must identify a person or persons capable of informing an advertiser of the details of any reconciliation information.

All television stations have transitioned to the online file as of July 1, 2014. These stations must continue to retain existing political file documents (those in existence prior to July 1, 2014) at the station until the end of the retention period, unless they elect voluntarily to post those existing political files on the Commission’s online file website.

Commercial radio stations in the top 50 Nielsen Audio markets with 5 or more full-time employees must commence using the online political file on a going-forward basis on [date]. These stations must continue to retain existing political file documents (those in existence prior to [date]) at the station until the end of the retention period, unless they elect voluntarily to post those existing political files on the Commission’s online file website. All other radio stations are exempt from online filing until March 1, 2018. On March 1, 2018, these radio stations must commence uploading all new public and political file material to the online public file. In addition, on this date these stations must also have completed uploading their existing public file material, with the exception of the political file which is permitted, but not required, to be uploaded to the FCC’s online public file.

Licensees should upload any additional material that relates to an application filed with the Commission in the folder below that corresponds to the type application at issue.