Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-03-10
Law Backs Networks
IfhcCathy Demands
Air Time for RebuttaI
By William J. Meyer

By William J. Meyer
Despite the threats Of Senator
Mccarthy. the National Broad
casting Co. and the Column
bia Broadcasting System appear
well within their prerogatives in
awarding radio and television
time to the Republican National
Committee to answer last Satur-
days speech by Adlai Stevenson.
In granting air time to political
parties or persons to reply to
their opponents. radio stations
are guided by two factors-law
and policy.
In this instance, the law did not
apply and. according to a CHS
spokesman in New York. the net
works decision was based on
this Federal Communications
Commission statement of policy.
In determining whether to
honor specific requests for time,
the station viii inevitably be
confronted with such questions
asfwhether the subject is worth
CONSIDERING. whether the view
point Of the requesting party has
already received a sufficient
amount of broadcast time, or
whether there may not be other
available groups or individuals
who might be more appropriate
spokesman for the particular
point of view than. the person
making the request"
Applies. to Candidates.
The law, enacted by Congress
in 1927. says only that a radio
station that permits ANY per-
son who is a legally qualified
candidate for any public Office
to use a broadcasting station
shall afford equal opportunities
to all other such candidates for
that Office
In the current ruckus of an
swering Mr.. StevenSon'S speech,
no one is a candidate for Office.
Consequently, the controversy
centered around the FEC policy
which is a code of ethics adopted
by the FEC after a series Of
hearings in 1919. 1t covers "edi-
torializing by broadcast licen-
sees" and its purpose is to
assure fair play in controversial
issues.
Leonard w. Hall, chairman of
the Republican National Com
mittee. who cut in ahead Of
Senator Mccarthy in requesting
radio and TV time. said that this
is not a matter of personal re-
buttal." but a party matter in
stead.
Lee Agrees.
Robert E. Lee. a member of
the FEC and a close friend of
Senator Mccarthy. agreed. He
said yesterday he thought it was
proper for the networks to give
the Republican Party, and not
the Senator. air time for reply.
"McCarthy's my friend" Mr..
Lee said. but in this case it
seems I would have to say, Look,
pal. it seems like a square deal
to me-"
Senator Mccarthy returned to
Washington late in the day,
and. advised of Mr., Lees square
deal" coEnrnentx relnafked:
IF that is the rude. that rule
has got to be changed"
The Senator. however. says Mr..
Stevenson's talk was a vicious
attack on me personally" and
that CHS and NBC will grant
me time or learn what the law
is"
Senator Mccarthy, or any
other individual, denied rebuttal
privileges by radio station, has
the right to appeal to the FEC.
The commission, in disputes of
this nature, does not order the
station involved to give or deny
q person air time. Instead, it
ascertains the facts and files
them for possible consideration
when the stations application
for a renewal of its license comes
up.
Courts Available.
Political prejudice could hardly
enter into license renewal pro-
cedure because, should the COM
mission refuse to renew a sta
: tons permit, the station could
appeal to Federal courts. carry
ing a case as high as the Su-
preme Court if necessary.
In the weeks Immediately pre-
ceding elections. it was learned,
the FEC receives numerous COM
plants from candidates who feel
they have been denied air time
equal to their opponents. 1t is
seldom confronted with a be-
tween-elections squabble, such as
the present one.