Fourth Circuit gives FCC until Oct. 1 in political ad rate fight

The Fourth Circuit is giving the Federal Communications Commission more time to resolve its political advertising rate fight, declining to force a decision by Friday but keeping the threat of court intervention alive after Oct. 1.

In a 2-1 order issued Friday, the appeals court said it will defer action on a request from Democratic candidates Sherrod Brown, Jon Ossoff, Roy Cooper and Kristen McDonald Rivet to force the FCC to rule on their challenge to its expanded lowest unit charge policy.

The candidates had asked the court to require a final FCC decision by Sept. 18. Instead, the Fourth Circuit says it will take no action on their request “until at least October 1, 2026.” If the FCC acts during that period and makes the case moot, the court says it will dismiss the petition.

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