Free Air Time

Free Air Time Forum with former Senator Paul Simon

Radio and television stations in Illinois and throughout the country devote little time to election campaign debates and issue discussions by candidates.

The result: Candidates for federal office have to buy commercial time. In fact, in the 2000 elections, candidates for U.S. Senate spent the majority of their campaign budgets at radio and television stations -- private businesses that have been given free use of the public's airwaves.