Numerous surveys since 1982 have shown similar results. But putting free air time into practice requires answering several logistical questions. One proposal by the Free TV for Straight Talk Coalition, a public interest group, calls for the creation of a national political broadcast bank. Qualifying House and Senate candidates, as well as state and national political parties, would receive vouchers from this bank to redeem for air time at any station of their choosing. In politics as in media markets, one size doesn't fit all.
Some races become hotly contested and eat up lots of advertising time.
The parties could then redirect those broadcast vouchers to candidates of their choosing who could make better use of them. The Future of Free Air Time Free air time proposals have always run into heavy resistance from lawmakers. In part, that's because free air time would help level the playing field between challengers and incumbents. And in part, it's because free air time would involve an expense to broadcasters, a powerful lobby with many friends on Capitol Hill. Reform groups and most legal scholars counter that broadcasters are public trustees who receive enormously valuable licenses from the government, free of charge, in return for a pledge to use the public airwaves in ways that serve the public interest.