What does the Federal Communications Commission's Equal Time Provision require of broadcast stations?

The Federal Communications Commission's Equal Time Provision mandates that broadcast stations must provide equal access to air time for political candidates running for the same office when they are competing for the same audience. This provision ensures that if a broadcasting station allows one candidate to use their airwaves, they must offer the same amount of time and conditions to other competitors. The intent is to promote fairness and balance during election periods, thus preventing one candidate from having an undue advantage over others in terms of media exposure.

While advertisements and coverage of political events are related to the overall media landscape, the Equal Time Provision specifically deals with access to air time, rather than content or advertisement policies. Thus, it is focused on ensuring equal opportunity rather than limiting or banning political advertising or coverage.