Regulating Political Campaign Advertising on Television, Cable; Congress Holds Hearings on Three Proposed Bills

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CAMPAIGN REFORM IS a hot topic on Capitol Hill these days, but finances are not the only phase of running for office under scrutiny from legislators.

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation's Communications Subcommittee recently held a hearing on three bills designed to regulate campaign advertising that is broadcast and on cable.

The bills, amendments to the Communications Act of 1934, set forth regulations for the content of political broadcast and cable ads, such as clearly identifying the candidate, as well as when and at what cost ads should run, and the length of such ads.

Opponents of the measures argued that such regulation comes dangerously close to violating First Amendment free speech rights, while those in favor of the legislation pointed to the need for an end to the slick, nasty …