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WTHR is legally required to air graphic ad purchased by presidential candidate

Randall Terry isn't on the ballot in Indiana. But he has purchased national ad space that meets FCC guidelines.
Credit: AP
Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry protests in front of the Supreme Court in Washington, Monday, July 9, 2018. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

INDIANAPOLIS — WTHR is hearing from viewers upset about a recent political ad that has begun airing during NBC advertising breaks. 

Randall Terry is running for president, but Hoosiers cannot vote for him. Terry failed to make it onto the Indiana ballot. 

Terry's campaign has purchased space for their ad, attacking Vice President Harris for her stance on abortion, on NBC and other networks to air an ad with very graphic images. 

WTHR did not sell this advertising space to Terry. The advertisement meets the FCC's requirement for a "legally qualified candidate" nationally, which allows him to air his paid commercials on NBC stations. That means WTHR is legally required to run the ads. 

You can call the FCC Consumer Complaint line at 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322) to provide your feedback on the ad.

Who is Randall Terry? 

Terry is a longtime anti-abortion activist representing the Constitution Party in the race for president. 

Under FCC rules, broadcast stations “are prohibited from censoring or rejecting political ads that are paid for and sponsored by legally qualified candidates,” a standard that Terry has met.

“This is the last bastion of free speech,” Terry said in an interview. “The only place that you can still have free speech is on a licensed station as a federal candidate.”

Terry is on the ballot in Alaska, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey and North Carolina. 

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