By The Epoch Times | Created at 2026-10-14 21:52:06 | Updated at 2026-10-16 05:52:25
1 day ago
The Supreme Court in Washington on Oct. 9, 2026. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times
The Supreme Court granted an emergency stay blocking the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) from having to rule immediately on a Democratic challenge to a policy that lets political party committees and joint fundraising committees buy broadcast ads at low candidate rates.
The order keeps the policy in effect through the midterm congressional elections scheduled for Nov. 3.
The ruling in FCC v. Brown was issued late on Oct. 14.
Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson said they would have denied the emergency application.
The federal Communications Act provides that in the 45 days before a primary election and 60 days before a general election, broadcasters must charge legally qualified candidates no more than the lowest rate offered to their most favored customers. The rule does not apply to streaming and social media ads.
Democratic candidates contested an FCC Media Bureau public notice that told broadcasters the lowest unit charge discount had to be given to political party committees and certain joint fundraising committees, not just candidates themselves.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
