PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Radio stations must say on the air, at the time something is broadcast, when someone paid or gave money, services, or anything valuable for that broadcast. Things given free or for a very small charge do not count unless they were given to get a special mention beyond a normal identification. The Federal Communications Commission can also require an announcement for political programs or programs about controversial issues when recordings, scripts, talent, or other materials or services were supplied free or cheaply to induce the broadcast. If a report under section 508 is sent to a station about such payments or gifts, the station must make a proper announcement. Station owners must try to get the needed information from employees and others who help make programs so they can make these announcements. The Commission can waive the announcement rule when public interest does not require it and must write rules to carry out these requirements.

Title 47, §317

Telegraphs, Telephones, and Radiotelegraphs, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Disclosure of person furnishing

(1)All matter broadcast by any radio station for which any money, service or other valuable consideration is directly or indirectly paid, or promised to or charged or accepted by, the station so broadcasting, from any person, shall, at the time the same is so broadcast, be announced as paid for or furnished, as the case may be, by such person: Provided, That “service or other valuable consideration” shall not include any service or property furnished without charge or at a nominal charge for use on, or in connection with, a broadcast unless it is so furnished in consideration for an identification in a broadcast of any person, product, service, trademark, or brand name beyond an identification which is reasonably related to the use of such service or property on the broadcast.

(2)Nothing in this section shall preclude the Commission from requiring that an appropriate announcement shall be made at the time of the broadcast in the case of any political program or any program involving the discussion of any controversial issue for which any films, records, transcriptions, talent, scripts, or other material or service of any kind have been furnished, without charge or at a nominal charge, directly or indirectly, as an inducement to the broadcast of such program.

(b)Disclosure to station of payments

In any case where a report has been made to a radio station, as required by section 508 of this title, of circumstances which would have required an announcement under this section had the consideration been received by such radio station, an appropriate announcement shall be made by such radio station.

(c)Acquiring information from station employees

The licensee of each radio station shall exercise reasonable diligence to obtain from its employees, and from other persons with whom it deals directly in connection with any program or program matter for broadcast, information to enable such licensee to make the announcement required by this section.

(d)Waiver of announcement

The Commission may waive the requirement of an announcement as provided in this section in any case or class of cases with respect to which it determines that the public interest, convenience, or necessity does not require the broadcasting of such announcement.

(e)Rules and regulations

The Commission shall prescribe appropriate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1980—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 96–507 conformed the reference to section 508 of this title to reflect the renumbering of that section by Pub. L. 96–507. 1960—Pub. L. 86–752 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a), inserting proviso clause, and added subsecs. (b) to (e).

§317 Announcement of Payment for Broadcast

Summary

Title 47, §317

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata