FCC Commissioner Claims Kamala Harris’ ‘SNL’ Cameo Was A “Clear And Blatant” Effort To Evade Equal Time Rule

deadline.com:

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr claimed that Kamala Harris‘ cameo on Saturday Night Live was a “clear and blatant effort” by the show to evade the FCC’s Equal Time Rule.

Carr wrote on X, “The purpose of the rule is to avoid exactly this type of biased and partisan conduct – a licensed broadcaster using the public airwaves to exert its influence for one candidate on the eve of an election.

Unless the broadcaster offered Equal Time to other qualifying campaigns.” The rule requires that broadcasters who provide airtime to a candidate also offer comparable time to opposing candidates.

According to the FCC, equal opportunities “generally means providing comparable time and placement to opposing candidates; it does not require a station to provide opposing candidates with programs identical to the initiating candidate.” A station also is not required to seek out opposing candidates and offer them equal opportunities.