For the past several months, broadcast stations in Missouri have been flummoxed by demands for political advertising time by Frazier Glenn Miller. By claiming that he was a bona fide write-in candidate for the U.S. Senate, this past March, Miller was able to compel Missouri broadcasters to air his racist and anti-Semitic political ads. Many broadcasters preceded Miller's spots with apologies and disclaimers, and some stations, such as Entercom's KMBZ, donated the revenue from Miller's advertisements to the local chapters of the NAACP and the Jewish Community Relations Council.
Recently, Missouri's Attorney General and the Missouri Broadcasters Association (MBA) sought a declaratory ruling from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on the issue of whether Miller was a bona fide write-in candidate for the U.S. Senate and therefore entitled to reasonable access to broadcast stations throughout the state. According to a statement issued by the MBA last month, the FCC's Media Bureau responded with informal, oral advice that "on the facts and pleadings submitted by all parties, including Mr. Miller, it would not be unreasonable for Missouri broadcasting stations to determine that Miller is not a bona fide write-in candidate and therefore, Missouri broadcasters may deny him access to their stations."
