[ManagersNFCB] Articles of Incorporation & Politics

[Janis Lane-Ewart]

Dear Colleagues of NFCB,

KFAI's Articles of Incorporation restrict the station from "...no part of 
the property or the income of the corporation shall be used for the purpose 
of carrying on propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, 
and in  no event shall the corporation participate in or intervene in 
(including publishing or distributing statements) any political campaign on 
behalf of any candidate for public office."

I've been told that this is typical language for community stations. Right 
now I have a board member who believes that program hosts must comply with 
this standard and NOT express any political views or make comments about 
candidates for public office.

The questions:
How many of you require program hosts to issue a disclaimer when they cover 
a political issue?

Do you require programmers who play music that is politically tinged to 
also issue a disclaimer?

My program director feels that the FCC regulations allow programmers more 
latitude around this issue and that the Articles of Incorporation are more 
linked to governing the station, rather than specifically related to 
programming.

Your feedback and/or examples would be helpful as I need to address this 
issue at an upcoming board governance meeting.

Later, a question about board term limits, but I don't want to clog up the 
list serve with responses just yet.
THANKS!
Janis

Janis Lane-Ewart
Executive Director
KFAI, Fresh Air Radio
1808 Riverside Ave.
Minneapolis, MN 55454
612/341-3144x23
612/341-4281 fax
janislaneewart at kfai.org
Hours: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

www.kfai.org