free broadcast time obligations imposed by section
315(c)’’.
(b) FREE-TIME OBLIGATIONS.—Section 315 of the
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 315) is amend-
ed—
(1) by redesignating subsections (c) and (d) as
subsections (d) and (e), respectively; and
(2) by inserting after subsection (b) the follow-
ing new subsection:
‘‘(c)(1) Each license for a broadcasting station shall
annually make available free broadcast time for policy de-
bates in accordance with the requirements of this sub-
section. The Commission shall not renew the license of any
licensee who substantially fails or refuses to comply with
the requirements of this subsection, but such licensee shall
not be subject to any other sanction or remedy for such
failure or refusal.
‘‘(2) A licensee subject to this subsection shall allot
free broadcast time for policy debates in accordance with
the following standards:
‘‘(A) Such licensee shall allot not less than 30
minutes of free broadcast time during each even-
numbered year to—
‘‘(i) the candidates for the House of Rep-
resentatives of each qualified political party for
any congressional district that falls within the
grade B contour of such stations signal; and
‘‘(ii) the candidates for the Senate of each
qualified political party of the State within
which the preponderance of the station’s audi-
ence resides.
‘‘(B) The broadcast time allotted by any li-
censee shall be allotted so that—
‘‘(i) the broadcast is during the hours of 7
to 10 p.m. on weekdays; and
‘‘(ii) the broadcast is during the four
weeks immediately preceding election day.
‘‘(3) A political party shall be treated as a qualified
political party for purposes of paragraph (2) if the can-
didate for President of such party in the most recent presi-
dential election received more than 5 percent of the total
number of votes cast by individuals for that office.
‘‘(4) A licensee allots free broadcast time as required
by this subsection by broadcasting the joint appearance
by each of the candidates described in paragraph (2)(A)
(i) or (ii) at a forum for the discussion of political issues,
or, if any such candidate refuses to so appear, the appear-
ance by the remainder of such candidates not refusing to
appear.
‘‘(5) Nothing in this subsection, and no use of free
broadcast time allotted under this subsection, shall be con-
strued to restrict or otherwise affect the purchase of ad-
vertising time under subsection (b) of this section.’’.
(c) FREE CABLE TIME.—Section 611 of the Commu-
nications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 531) is amended—
(1) by redesignating subsection (f) as sub-
section (g); and
(2) by inserting after subsection (e) the follow-
ing new subsection:
‘‘(f) A cable operator shall annually make available
free cable time for policy debates in accordance with the
requirements of regulations prescribed by the Commission.
Such regulations shall, to the extent practicable, require
each such cable operator to provide such free cable time
in the same amounts and manner, to the same candidates,
and subject to the same conditions as free broadcast time
is required to be provided by broadcast station licensees
under section 315(c) of this Act. No franchise authority
shall renew the franchise of any cable operator who sub-
stantially fails or refuses to comply with such regulations,
but such operator shall not be subject to any other sanc-
tion or remedy for such failure or refusal.’’.
Æ