(a) Every licensee shall keep and permit public inspection of a complete and orderly record (political file) of all requests for broadcast time made by or on behalf of a candidate for public office, together with an appropriate notation showing the disposition made by the licensee of such requests, and the charges made, if any, if the request is granted. The “disposition” includes the schedule of time purchased, when spots actually aired, the rates charged, and the classes of time purchased.

(b) When free time is provided for use by or on behalf of candidates, a record of the free time provided shall be placed in the political file.

(c) All records required by this paragraph shall be placed in the online political file as soon as possible and shall be retained for a period of two years. As soon as possible means immediately absent unusual circumstances.

[57 FR 210, Jan. 3, 1992, as amended at 77 FR 27655, May 11, 2012; 81 FR 10123, Feb. 29, 2016; 85 FR 21078, Apr. 16, 2020]