FCC Votes To Update Contest Rules

The FCC Friday proposed to update their regulations for broadcast radio and television contests so that the rules are easier for the public to understand.

The Hill reports the FCC unanimously voted to move forward with the update to the regulations, which will allow companies to post their contest rules on the Internet and could spell the end of many fast-talking radio announcers and tiny type on some TV ads.

“I think it’s time for broadcasters to be able to use 21st century tools to carry out their public interest obligations with respect to on-air contests,” said Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat.
The existing rules were written in 1976 in response to concerns about companies scamming consumers. They require radio and TV companies to disclose on-air the details of who can participate in their contests and how.

Those disclosures can be annoying to people forced to listen to a quick-talking announcer explain who is and is not eligible to participate, however.

Commissioner Ajit Pai said the change “would ease the burden currently imposed on broadcasters.” He characterized what stations have to do now, read contest rules on-air as “not compelling content” and there’s evidence many in the audience change channels when rules are read on-air.

According to RadioWorld, Entercom Communications filed a Petition for Rulemaking on changing the contest notification rules in 2012. The FCC put that out for comment and received no opposition to posting contest rules online.

Broadcasters have long supported the change, including NAB and NPR, among others. NPR said at the time that periodic announcements “are not as effective as online, written disclosures,” and requiring on-air contest rules announcements “detracts from the stations’ service to their communities.”