Fast Talkers Not Needed: FCC Updates “Contest Rule”

Times have changed, and the FCC has noticed. For almost four decades since 1976, we have heard fast talking announcers on radio and television, rushing through legal disclaimers at the end of commercials for contests. The FCC’s “contest rule” had required full disclosure on air of material terms of a contest or sweepstakes. (See 47 C.F.R. Section 73.1216.) Recently, the FCC adopted revised rules that would allow broadcasters to refer consumers to an Internet website instead of reading contest rules on air.