SLC Times

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Ending FCC Meddling in Our Elections Act with Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) and Senators John Barrasso (R-WY) and Ted Budd (R-NC). The legislation responds to the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) recent decision to begin rulemaking that would require on-air disclosures for campaign ads created using artificial intelligence.

In May, the FCC, led by a Democrat-appointed majority, voted 3-2 to propose new regulations impacting the use of AI in campaign advertising. The proposed rules would mandate that television and radio providers issue an on-air disclosure every time an AI-created ad is aired. This decision was supported exclusively by Democrat-appointed Commissioners and has raised significant concerns about partisan overreach.

"The FCC's proposal to impose new regulations on political speech involving AI, just months before one of the most consequential elections in our history, represents a clear overstep of their regulatory authority," said Senator Lee. "While I support transparency in the use of AI in campaign ads, I strongly oppose the idea of a Democrat-run federal agency single-handedly changing the rules of political engagement under the guise of regulation."

Senator Lummis stated, "It is imperative that we safeguard the integrity of our election processes from bureaucratic overreach. The Ending FCC Meddling in Our Elections Act ensures that the FCC does not distort the political landscape with unwarranted and unauthorized intrusions."

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr added, “The FCC’s eleventh-hour plan to impose new regulations on political speech right before the election is as unlawful as it is misguided. Senator Lee’s bill would stop this DNC-backed initiative in its tracks. I applaud Senator Lee for his strong leadership and steps to ensure a level playing field as voters head to the ballot box.”

Senator Lee’s legislation would prohibit using federal funds to enforce any order issued due to the FCC’s notice of proposed rulemaking, effectively stopping the Commission's overreach.

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