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Interpretive Rule on Dissemination Date for Certain Independent ExpendituresOn October 4, 2011, the Commission published in the Federal Register an Interpretive Rule addressing when independent expenditure communications taking the form of mini-billboards, yard signs, handbills, hats, buttons and similar items are considered “publicly disseminated” for reporting purposes. The actual public dissemination date of independent expenditures that take the form of signs, handbills, t-shirts, hats, buttons and similar items is difficult to establish in situations where the items are disseminated in stages or where items are purchased from a vendor and then retained for a period of time before being disseminated to affiliate or member organizations, or to individuals such as employees or volunteers to wear or display in public. For this reason, the Commission has clarified a range of acceptable dates that may be used as the public dissemination date for these forms of independent expenditure communications by individuals and organizations required to report independent expenditures (“filers”). See 11 CFR 104.4(b)(2), (c), and (f), and 109.10(c) and (d). The Commission has determined that filers may report the independent expenditure communications mentioned above as “publicly disseminated” on any “reasonable date” starting with the date the filer receives or exercises control over the items in the usual and normal course of dissemination, up to the date that the communications are actually disseminated to the public. “Reasonable dates” include, but are not limited to:
In no event may a filer choose a date that is later than the actual date of dissemination. Likewise, a filer may not choose a date after the date of the election to which the independent expenditure pertains. Date Effective: October 4, 2011 (Posted 10/6/11; By: Christopher Berg) Resources:
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The FEC Record is produced by the Information Division, Office of Communications. Toll free 800-424-9530; Local 202-694-1100; E-mail info@fec.gov. Greg Scott, Director; Amy Kort, Asst. Director; Dorothy Yeager, Editor |