Equal time rule - " If a radio or television station sells air time to one candidate, the rule states that it must offer to sell the same amount of time to other candidates for that office."
With only so much time to go around, there would have to be some changes. The problem is the equal-time requirement in Section 315 of the Communications Act and the collision of this rule with unmanageable numbers of ..candidates
First comes the intention and taking care of unintended consequences. Can the law suppress political debate? ( "The Supreme Court has emphasized that restrictions on broadcasters' First Amendment rights must be "narrowly tailored" to serve a substantial government interest."). Free or paid time? If its free time then theres no burden on the candidate.
Kennedy Nixon Debates when the equal time rule was suspended. 15 years later, when debates were considered exempt as bonafide news event as allowed in the amendment.
Viewership at 100 million in 1960 to 73 million in 2020 presidential debates.
Equal time law vs equal opportunity
political speech- lies in a political ad - defamation recourse
"Different rules apply to different mediums of communication."
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