FCC Amends And Clarifies Foreign Sponsorship ID Rules

On June 10, 2024, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) released a Second Report and Order (Second R&O) that amends the Commission's foreign sponsorship identification rules (FSID Rules). As explained in more detail below, the new rules impose upon broadcasters diligence, certification, and recordkeeping requirements with respect to certain leases of programming time as well as political issue advertisements and paid public service announcements (PSAs). The rules take effect 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

With the Second R&O, the Commission seeks to address a ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that vacated a portion of the FSID Rules that the Commission originally adopted in 2021.