Unless the stations have violated some law or regulation, there won't be any sanctions. However, it is not illegal. I'm neither an attorney nor an expert in the I.R.S. code. But there are ways that can be done in which it is entirely legal. Ervin Duggan is president and CEO of the Public Broadcasting Service.
Many stations have policies against such practices.
Clearly, however, these policies need better auditing, they need strong enforcement and they need to be universal. We need to have a universal ethic throughout our system. Fortunately, our stations are now acutely aware of this issue, and they are taking steps even as we meet to address it quickly and forthrightly. In light of these recent developments, PBS's development office and our development advisory committee made up of station leaders in the development field are issuing an advisory this week strongly urging our member stations to establish policies strictly prohibiting the exchange or rental of lists to partisan political campaigns, committees or groups. Before dismissing the panel, Chairman Tauzin recommended the Corporation for Public Broadcasting provide the committee with weekly reports on its internal investigation of the list swapping.