Federal candidates have the right to purchase reasonable amounts of time.
State and local candidates have no such right, but like federal candidates, are entitled to equal opportunities when their opponents have purchased time or been given free time. The lowest unit charge is the rate the station charges its most favored commercial advertiser for the same class and amount of time during the same time period or program. There is no law or regulation which entitles candidates to news coverage. Consistent with the First Amendment to the Constitution, broadcasters are generally free to present the news based on good faith journalistic judgment of what stories are most newsworthy. Moreover, an appearance by a candidate in a news program would not entitle an opposing candidate to a right of equal opportunities.