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HR 2271 104th Congress House

Fairness in Political Advertising Act of 1995

Official title: To amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require radio and television broadcasters to provide free broadcasting time for political advertising.

Introduced: September 13, 1995 See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Cable televisionCommerceFranchises (Retail trade)Law
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LicensesPolitical advertisingPolitical partiesScience, Technology, CommunicationsStandardsTelevision in politicsTelevision stations
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This bill died when the 104th Congress ended
It never became law before the 104th Congress (1995–1996) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 27, 1996
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1281)
Sep 18, 1995
Referred to the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Sep 6, 1995
Referred to the House Committee on Commerce.
Sep 6, 1995
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 27, 1996

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H1281)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Fairness in Political Advertising Act of 1995 - Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to require each licensee for a television broadcasting station to make available free broadcast time in each even-numbered year for political advertising. Provides standards for time allotment, including total time to be allotted, the length of each unit of such free time, the hours of the day and the time of the year in which such free time must be allowed, a limitation on such free time, and the use of such free time. Requires candidates meeting certain minimum qualifying standards to be treated equally for purposes of such allotment.

Provides that nothing in this Act shall restrict a candidate's right to purchase other broadcast time on such station.

Requires a cable operator to make available annually free cable time for political advertising under similar requirements.

Prohibits the renewal of the license of any television broadcast station licensee, or the franchise of any cable operator, that fails to comply with such requirements.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 4
All 4 Democratic 3
D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · May 23, 1996
LIPINSKI, WILLIAM
· Apr 18, 1996
 D
Lofgren, Zoe
California · Sep 21, 1995
 D
Kaptur, Marcy
Ohio · Sep 13, 1995
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 2271: Fairness in Political Advertising Act of 1995. 104th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2271/
MLA
"H.R. 2271: Fairness in Political Advertising Act of 1995." 104th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2271/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 2271, 104th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2271/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 2271: Fairness in Political Advertising Act of 1995](https://openamerica.io/bill/104-HR-2271/)
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