FEC moves to draft Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Internet communication disclaimers

WASHINGTON – At its open meeting yesterday, the Federal Election Commission approved a proposal to draft a notice of proposed rulemaking on Internet communication disclaimers and discussed motions including on the scheduling of a public hearing.

 REG 2011-02 (Internet Communication Disclaimers). The Commission unanimously approved a motion that directs the Office of General Counsel to draft a notice of proposed rulemaking that “proposes revisions to Commission rules governing disclaimers on paid internet and digital communications and does not propose changes to any other rules adopted by the Commission in the Internet Communications Rulemaking of 2006.” The Commission also voted on two other proposals including the scheduling of hearings connected with the rulemaking process but did not agree to the motions by the requisite four votes. Commissioner Ellen L. Weintraub issued a Statement.

Assessment of Commission Action on Enforcement Matters Awaiting Reason-to-Believe Consideration. The Commission held over a discussion on a memorandum providing an update on the status of enforcement matters awaiting reason-to-believe consideration by the Commission, as well as an assessment of recent efforts by the agency to address the backlog of matters.  The Commission also held over discussion on amending Directive 68 to require additional reporting on the status of matters in which a First General Counsel’s Report is pending.