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      FEC Record: Advisory opinions
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      AO 2016-06: SSF may conduct proposed online activity

FEC Record: Advisory opinionsAO 2016-06: SSF may conduct proposed online activityAugust 4, 2016 A trade association PAC may conduct proposed activities via what it has described as an "online candidate interaction and fundraising platform." However, the Commission could not agree on whether this activity would result in in-kind contributions to the participating candidates. **Background**            The Internet Association Political Action Committee ("IAPAC") is the separate segregated fund of the Internet Association ("IA"), a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade organization. IA and IAPAC stated that they "have developed a virtual fundraiser platform" to allow the general public to "see [a] candidate in real time, ask questions, share their views, and ... make a contribution to the candidate." The requestors noted that "[e]ach event will feature one candidate... and will be hosted by an IA staff person (likely IA’s president and CEO). The host will engage ... with the candidate about ...the Internet economy ... [and] the candidate''s campaign." As part of the proposed activity,  the host and the candidate may "urge listeners to vote for the candidate ... and ask viewers to make contributions to the candidate." **Analysis**            The Commission concluded that IAPAC may conduct the proposed activities. The Commission further concluded that IAPAC must pay IA for the staffing and software development costs in order to prevent IA from making a prohibited corporate contribution. IAPAC must report its disbursements for these activities on their regularly scheduled reports, and IA must also report communication costs to its members on FEC Form 7 once those costs exceed $2,000 per election. However, the Commission could not agree on whether the proposed activity would result in an in-kind contribution to the participating candidates. Date issued: 08/1/2016; 2 pages. **Resources:** Advisory Opinion 2016-06 [PDF]            Concurring statement of Chairman Matthew S. Petersen and Commissioners Lee E. Goodman and Caroline C. Hunter [PDF]            Commission consideration of Advisory Opinion 2016-06 [mp3]            Agenda Document No. 16-27-A [PDF]            Agenda Document No. 16-27-B [PDF]            Agenda Document No. 16-27-B-1 [PDF]
 Author
          Isaac BakerCommunications Specialist


Read next: Pending advisory opinion requests as of July 31, 2016
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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.


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