Cox Rejects Collins’ Request

“She is permitted to remain on the air without triggering any FCC obligations”

Earlier this month, Ninth District Candidate Doug Collins requested equal time on WXKT airwaves, the same station that runs his opponent Martha Zoller’s radio show. Collins sent the letter to Cox Media Group President Doug Franklin. According to one source, Cox, which owns WXKT, received the letter the week of December 14th. The letter, though, goes beyond a request for equal time and breaches accusations of campaign violations.

“It is my understanding,” Collins writes in the letter, “that she is not permitted to promote her campaign or subsequent campaign activities on the air without other candidates for Georgia’s 9th congressional district being afforded the ability for equal time,” adding, “Mrs. Zoller has discussed her campaign on multiple occasions since filing her campaign committee in early September.”

In a recent statement, Vice President and General Manager of Cox Media Group Scott Smith responded to the letter.

“Before Ms. Zoller becomes a legally qualified candidate under Georgia state law,” he writes, “she is permitted to remain on the air without triggering any FCC obligations, such as ‘equal time.’”

Clarifying the decision, Smith added,

“We take our FCC responsibilities seriously and of course will comply with all FCC political candidate rules, but we also respect the rights of all people to participate in the political process. So, rather than penalizing Ms. Zoller for her interest in representing the people of our state, we are allowing her to continue her employment at the present time.”

FYN attempted to contact the Collins Campaign for a response to the decision, but the Collins camp has yet to return our calls. A copy of Collins’ letter was also sent to the Bicknell Campaign. The Bicknell Campaign, however, did not wish to comment on the letter.