Bill
Bill > AR30
NJ AR30
NJ AR30Urges US President and FCC to investigate National Broadcasting Company for potential violation of FCC rule on equal opportunity broadcast time of political candidates.
summary
Introduced
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
In Committee
01/13/2026
01/13/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026-2027 Regular Session
Bill Summary
This resolution urges the President of the United States and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate a potential violation of the equal time rule on political programming by the National Broadcasting Company (NBC). Additionally, in the event that NBC is found to be in violation of the equal time rule, this resolution urges the President of the United States and the FCC to suspend NBC's broadcasting license. On November 2, 2024, three days before the 2024 presidential election, Saturday Night Live (SNL), a late-night comedy variety show aired by NBC, aired a comedy skit featuring presidential candidate Kamala Harris. Pursuant to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) rules on political programming, if a station licensee permits a legally qualified candidate for public office to use its facilities, it is required to afford equal opportunities to all other legally qualified candidates for that office to use such facilities. As the station airing SNL, NBC failed to provide the opposing presidential candidate, Donald J. Trump, an equal amount of time on SNL. Amidst pushback on Harris's SNL appearance from several sources, including Brendan Carr, a commissioner of the FCC, NBC eventually provided Trump with some last-minute air time during its coverage of the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) Playoffs race and the National Football League (NFL) game on the night of November 3, 2024. Regardless of that rushed response, NBC may still be in violation of the FCC rules for failing to provide Trump with comparable broadcast time and placement to Harris. The FCC has a duty to investigate potential violations of their rules, including the alleged violation of NBC's failure to provide equal opportunities of time to opposing political candidates in the 2024 presidential election.
AI Summary
This resolution urges the President of the United States and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the government agency that regulates broadcasting, to investigate the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) for potentially breaking the FCC's "equal time" rule. This rule requires broadcasters to offer equal opportunities for airtime to all legally qualified candidates for public office if they allow one candidate to use their facilities, which is meant to prevent unfair advantages. The resolution points to a comedy skit featuring presidential candidate Kamala Harris on NBC's show "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) just days before the 2024 presidential election, arguing that her opponent, Donald J. Trump, was not given comparable airtime on the same night. Although NBC later provided some airtime to Trump during other programming, the resolution suggests this may not have been sufficient to meet the FCC's requirements. If NBC is found to have violated the equal time rule, the resolution calls for the President and the FCC to suspend NBC's broadcasting license, which is the permission granted by the government to operate a broadcast station.
Committee Categories
Justice
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee (on 01/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2026/AR30 |
| BillText | https://pub.njleg.gov/Bills/2026/AR/30_I1.HTM |
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