Archives
Meister to Take WTTW to Court
January 17, 2010
Who: Jacob Meister, Democratic Candidate for United States Senate
What: Will file a lawsuit seeking an injunction against WTTW for its violation of FCC Election Rules
When: Available for media interviews Sunday, January 17, 2010 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Meister for Senate Headquarters, 2129 N. Western Avenue, Chicago
Background: Jacob Meister, Democratic candidate for the United States Senate, has been informed that WTTW intends to exclude him from its United States Senate debate scheduled for Wednesday, January 20. Meister’s campaign has communicated with Chicago Tonight Supervising Producer Jay Smith about including Meister in the debate. All candidates who meet FCC guidelines must be included, according to the Communications Act of 1934 and FCC regulations, which outline equal access provisions.
On Saturday, Meister’s campaign manager sent a letter to Smith regarding the campaign’s review of the law and its intent to file legal action if necessary. Under the Communications Act of 1934 and FCC regulations, broadcasting stations licensed by the FCC are required to grant all legally qualified candidates equal time and access to their facilities as to not disadvantage any other candidate [43 USC §73.1941(a)]. The station will be in clear violation of the FCC regulations by hosting and airing a forum in which all legally qualified candidates are not allowed to participate.
Meister has met and exceeded FCC guidelines to be considered a legally qualified candidate for the office of United States Senate, including collecting 20,000 signatures to be placed on the ballot, airing hundreds of radio advertisements, thousands of television spots statewide, opening six campaign offices throughout Illinois, hiring 34 staff people, recruiting hundreds of volunteers, holding town hall meetings, distributing campaign literature, making campaign speeches and issuing press releases about his candidacy. (43 USC §73.1940.)
Unless WTTW notifies Meister by the close of business Monday that he will be permitted to participate in the televised debate, his campaign will file a lawsuit in federal court Tuesday seeking an injunction against the station. On Tuesday Meister will be in Carbondale for a debate organized by the Southern Illinois University Democrats. To date Meister has been invited to all candidate debates.
