Report No. DC-2684         ACTION IN DOCKET CASE          November 22, 1994


            FCC PERMITS CHANNELLING OF POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENTS
                    CONTAINING GRAPHIC ABORTION IMAGERY
                          (MM DOCKET NO. 92-254)

     The Commission has ruled that stations may reschedule or
"channel" political advertisements containing graphic abortion
imagery to time periods when children are less likely to be in
the audience.  The Commission believes that Section 312(a)(7) of
the Communications Act, which requires licensees to provide
reasonable access to federal candidates, does not necessarily
preclude such action; nor does such an approach violate the "no-
censorship" provision of Section 315(a) of the Communications
Act.

     The Commission cautioned, however, that a licensee may not
channel political advertisements containing graphic abortion
imagery simply out of disagreement with the candidate's 
political position.  The licensee's decision to channel must be
made in good faith and relate to the nature of the graphic
imagery in question and not to any political position the
candidate espouses.  The Commission believes that this policy
fully complies with the "rule of reason" embodied in Section
312(a)(7) of the Communications Act and properly balances
relevant public interest considerations, including the First
Amendment values inherent in the Act.  The Commission said that
licensees who choose to channel political advertisements
containing graphic abortion imagery  they believe is harmful to
children must air those advertisements in time periods that are
otherwise consistent with the candidate's right to reasonable
access.

     Action by the Commission September 28, 1994, by Memorandum
Opinion and Order (FCC 94-249).  Chairman Hundt, Commissioners
Quello, Barrett, Ness, and Chong.

                                   -FCC-

     News Media contact: Patricia A. Chew at (202) 418-0500.
     Mass Media Bureau contact: Marsha J. MacBride and Ray White
at(202) 632-7586.