Source: http://www.fcc.gov/print/node/40352
Timestamp: 2014-09-21 07:08:24
Document Index: 89459050

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 399', '§ 399', '§ 399', '§ 399', '§ 399', '§ 399']

(3) to support or oppose any candidate for politicaloffice.
On August 9, 2002, pursuant to a complaint filed by
another broadcaster, the FCC determined that Minority hadviolated § 399b approximately 1,900 times between the years1999 and 2002. 7 FCC Rcd 15646 (2003). The FCC foundthat Minority had “willfully and repeatedly” violated § 399bwhen it broadcast paid promotional messages on KMTP-TVfrom for-profit corporations such as State Farm, Chevrolet,and U-Tron Computers.3 7 FCC Rcd 15646 (2003). Minority
3Minority does not contest that the broadcasts for which it was fined
were “advertisements” within the meaning of § 399b. The translated scriptfor a representative advertisement, for Asiana Airlines, read as follows: Case: 09-17311 04/12/2012 ID: 8136925 DktEntry: 29-1 Page: 5 of 49
Case: 09-17311 06/29/2012 ID: 8232371 DktEntry: 34 Page: 26 of 74
was fined $10,000 by the FCC. 7 FCC Rcd 15646 (2003).Minority paid its $10,000 fine, but also filed a complaint infederal district court for the Northern District of California inwhich it sought both reimbursement of the $10,000 anddeclaratory relief. In relevant part, Minority alleged that§ 399b violates the First Amendment because its restrictionon advertising was not narrowly tailored to the government’sinterest in preserving the educational programs on publicbroadcast stations. Minority alleges that it has declined tobroadcast public issue and political advertisements and woulddo so but for the fear of FCC fines and forfeitures similar tothose previously imposed and paid. Minority contended§ 399b is an unconstitutional content-based restriction onspeech, because it bans all paid public issue and politicalspeech while permitting paid promotional messages by non-profits. In response, the government contended § 399b’s restric-
tions on advertising are necessary to preserve the educationalnature of public broadcast programming. The governmentcontended that because advertisers naturally wish to reach thelargest possible audience, advertisers are more likely to buy
Female Character: “Did you get the surprising news AsianaAirlines sent to you? Now you can get American Airline [sic]free tickets using Asiana mileage.” Male Character: “Asiana Air now combines mileage withAmerican Airlines.” Female Character: “Now you can travel free to America, Cen-tral or South America, and even Europe—to 270 cities aroundworld [sic] earning mileage with Asiana Airlines. Although youtravel with Asiana Airlines or with American Airlines.” Male Character: “Now where do you want to go?” Female Character: “Well . . . . (laughter).” Male Character: “Mileage benefits with the best airline in theworld. Asiana Airlines.” Case: 09-17311 04/12/2012 ID: 8136925 DktEntry: 29-1 Page: 6 of 49
Case: 09-17311 06/29/2012 ID: 8232371 DktEntry: 34 Page: 27 of 74
commercials on television programs with high numbers ofviewers. Thus, the government contended, advertiser-supported television and radio stations have an incentive tobroadcast programs with mass-market appeal. According tothe government, if public television and radio stations becamefinancially dependant on advertising, such stations wouldreplace their niche educational programs with more popularprograms which have greater mass-market appeal, thus endan-gering the b