Your web browser is not supported You're using Internet Explorer, some features might not work. Please switch to another browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for a better experience.


An official website of the United States government Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Federal Election Commission | United States of America Calendar
           Glossary
          Search
              Search


Menu
      Home
      Campaign finance data
        All data
            Raising
            Spending
            Loans and debts
            Filings and reports
            Candidates
            Committees
            Bulk data
            Campaign finance statistics
        Find elections. Search by state or ZIP code
          Look up contributions from specific individuals
      Help for candidates and committees
        All compliance resources
            Guides
            Forms
            Dates and deadlines
            Trainings
        Learn about electronic filing
          Find and contact your committee's analyst
      Legal resources
        All legal resources
            Advisory opinions
            Enforcement
            Statutes
            Legislation
            Regulations
            Court cases
            Policy and other guidance
        Search across legal resources
          Search guidance documents
      About
        All about the FEC
            News and announcements
            Commission meetings
            Mission and history
            Leadership and structure
            Reports about the FEC
            Careers
            Working with the FEC
            Contact
        Introduction to campaign finance and elections


- Home
- ›
      FEC Record: Regulations
- ›
      Advance NPRM on internet disclaimer notices reopened for comment (2017)

FEC Record: RegulationsAdvance NPRM on internet disclaimer notices reopened for comment (2017)October 10, 2017 On October 10, 2017, the Commission reopened the comment period on its Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on internet communication disclaimers. (Federal Register, 82 Fed. Reg. 46937.) Comments must be submitted in writing on or before
    November 9, 2017. Editor's note:On November 9, 2017, the Commission voted to extend the comment period until Monday, November 13, 2017. For help submitting comments, consult our recent tip for treasurers. Under the Federal Election Campaign Act (the Act) and Commission regulations, a disclaimer is a statement that must appear on certain communications in order to identify who paid for the communication and, where applicable, whether the communication
    was authorized by a candidate. With some exceptions, the Act and Commission regulations require disclaimers to accompany public communications that are made by a political committee, expressly advocate the election or defeat of a clearly identified
    federal candidate, or solicit contributions. Political committees must also include a disclaimer on email sent to more than 500 recipients, as well as on their internet websites. While the term "public communication" does not usually include internet communications, it does encompass communications placed for a fee on another person’s website. Therefore, such communications are subject to disclaimer requirements as well. For those communications requiring disclaimers, each disclaimer "must be presented in a clear and conspicuous manner, to give the reader, observer or, listener adequate notice of the identity" of the communication’s sponsor. On October 13, 2011, the Commission published an ANPRM seeking
    comment on whether and how to revise 11 CFR 110.11 concerning disclaimers on certain internet communications. On October 18, 2016, the Commission
    reopened the comment period to consider legal and technological developments
    since the 2011 notice was published. In light of developments since the close of the last comment period, the Commission is reopening the comment period once again to consider disclaimer requirements as applied to certain internet communications.
    The Commission seeks additional comments on any of the issues brought up in the 2011 and 2016 ANPRM Federal Register notices, as well as comments that address advertisements on internet-enabled applications and devices. Finally, the Commission
    seeks comments that address possible regulatory approaches that could minimize the need for serial revisions of Commission regulations in order to adapt to new or emerging technologies. All comments must be in writing. Commenters are encouraged to submit comments electronically via the Commission’s website at www.fec.gov/netdisclaimers or at http://sers.fec.gov/fosers/,
    reference REG 2011-02. Alternatively, commenters may submit comments in paper form, addressed to the Federal Election Commission, Attn: Neven F. Stipanovic, Acting Assistant General Counsel, 999 E Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20463. All comments must
    include the full name, city, state, and zip code of each commenter or they will not be considered. The Commission will post all comments to its website and in the FEC’s Public Records Office at the conclusion of the comment period.
 Citations: Statute: 52 U.S.C. § 30120(a)Identification of funding and authorizing sources Regulations: 11 CFR 100.26Definition of public communication 11 CFR 110.11Communications; advertising; disclaimers Resources: Reopening of comment period: Federal Register notice(October 10, 2017) [PDF]Reopening of comment period and notice of hearing: Federal Register notice(October 18, 2016) [PDF]Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking: Federal Register notice(October 13, 2011) [PDF]


Read next: Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for internet communication disclaimers (2011)
 Related: Explore legal resources »


This information is not intended to replace the law or to change its meaning, nor does this information create or confer any rights for or on any person or bind the Federal Election Commission or the public. The reader is encouraged also to consult the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971, as amended (52 U.S.C. 30101 et seq.), Commission regulations (Title 11 of the Code of Federal Regulations), Commission advisory opinions and applicable court decisions.


About
          Careers
          Press
          Contact
   Privacy and security policy
          Plain language
          Accessibility statement
          Strategy, budget and performance
 No FEAR Act
          Open government
          Protected Voices
          USA.gov
          Inspector General
 FOIA
          OpenFEC API
          GitHub repository
          Release notes
          FEC.gov status


Federal Election Commission
 The FEC's Twitter page
            The FEC's YouTube page Sign up for FECMail
 This information is produced and disseminated at U.S. taxpayer expense.


Hide glossary Glossary Search terms