Chief Justice John Roberts on Oct. 8 temporarily blocked an order that would have compelled the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to decide by noon the next day whether parties and joint fundraising committees may purchase broadcast ads at discounted candidate rates.
The new order by the Supreme Court freezes an Oct. 7 ruling of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which held that the FCC had to make a decision on the Democratic candidates’ challenge to its cheap-ad policy before the Nov. 3 midterm congressional elections.
The Communications Act provides that in the 45 days before a primary election and 60 days before a general election, broadcasters must charge legally qualified candidates no more than the lowest rate offered to their most favored customers. The rule does not apply to streaming and social media ads….