House Democratic lawmakers hailed a recent report that confirmed the FCC must require sponsorsnof all broadcast ads to identify themselves, even for political spots. The GAO report (http://xrl.us/bokdta)nsaid the FCC has the right to prevent advertisers from misleading viewers and require true sponsors to disclose their identity, said a joint news release issued by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.;nHouse Commerce Committee Ranking Member Henry Waxman, D-Calif.; and House CommunicationsnSubcommittee Ranking Member Anna Eshoo, D-Calif. "It's been said that sunlight is the best disinfectantn— and this report makes clear that the FCC has the power, the authority, and the responsibility to shine anbright light on the organizations and campaigns behind our political advertisements," Pelosi said. "ThenFCC must simply update its rules to reflect the law, ensuring disclosure in our elections, transparency innour campaigns, and fairness for all voters." Eshoo said "it’s time for the FCC to play a crucial role innbringing greater transparency to America’s electoral system by requiring sponsors of political ads to disclosentheir true identity, not just their ambiguously-named Super PAC." Waxman urged the agency ton"take full advantage of the authority already granted by Congress to provide maximum transparency fornconsumers and voters." The commission's sponsorship identification requirements apply to both commercialnand political advertisements and require broadcasters to identify "the individual or group truly responsiblenfor funding an advertisement with political or controversial content," the GAO report said. It urgednthe FCC to modernize its broadcast sponsorship identification rules and provide status updates to broadcastersnthat are under investigation for violations. It said FCC guidance on broadcast sponsorship announcementsnaddresses older technology that is in some cases no longer used. The GAO report also saidnbroadcasters would benefit from more clarification from the FCC on how sponsorship identification rulesnapply in certain situations like when a video news release or product is aired. Ex-Commissioner MichaelnCopps commended the report. "The government’s own watchdog says what I've been saying all along —nthe FCC can and should make full disclosure a reality," said Copps, a special adviser at Common Cause, anpolitical advocacy group. "I hope the FCC will take heed — the American people have had their fill ofnunaccountable and anonymous ads." NAB did not comment.
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